The University of Auckland celebrated five decades of the Sāmoa Stage at the ASB Polyfest held in Manukau last week, 18 – 21 March, showcasing cultural excellence.
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Sili-Mireta Ropati said the festival had been a strong display of Māori and Pacific secondary school talent. She says events like Polyfest are also a powerful leadership pipeline.
As sponsors of the ASB Polyfest Sāmoa Stage, the University continues its long-standing investment in Pacific rangatahi, with the office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific charged with hosting the Sāmoa Stage. It also leads a team of dedicated student ambassadors made up of Pacific undergraduate students supporting the festival on and off the stage.
Sili-Mireta said it had been a great honour to witness the talent from secondary schools taking to the stage over the past few days. She says many of the student ambassadors still retained fresh memories from their recent school days performing at Polyfest. Supporting performers and visitors at the festival, had given the group a new appreciation of organising and running a festival the size of Polyfest.
“For our young ambassadors, Polyfest represents more than a cultural event, it’s part of their formative journey, helping to build confidence, responsibility and leadership.”
Sili-Mireta said the University’s presence at Polyfest demonstrated an underlying belief in Pacific potential.
“Young people are our future. Among our ambassadors are future scholars, innovators, entrepreneurs — even future prime ministers,” she said proudly.
Her own path charts that course, just over a decade ago Sili-Mireta was a student ambassador at Polyfest. Learning to navigate the tertiary environment, she took her place amongst her team mates; welcoming dignitaries, festival judges and the thousands of visitors attending Polyfest, while also engaging with hundreds of young people curious about studying at university.
The ASB Polyfest is a training ground in many areas says Sili Mireta, the stage isn’t the only place where leadership and service takes place.
“Polyfest teaches our young people what leadership can look like up close: the act of showing up, committing to a collective vision, managing pressure and striving for excellence.
“Collectively we ensure that the dedication, training and sacrifices made in the lead up to competing at Polyfest pays off for school students and their families. Once they come through the front gate, we make sure that win or lose, they know they are valued and take away an unforgettable experience.”
New event teaches the act of humility
From auditions and rehearsals to mastering choreography, budgeting time, organising teams and competing at the highest level, young performers develop discipline, resilience and strategic thinking, as they compete to win.
Sili-Mireta says a new event introduced at this year’s Polyfest aims to teach students about humility and sportsmanship, with the previous cupholders formally returning their championship cups before competition gets underway.
“The returning of the championship cups was a powerful act of humility and fairness. I saw the young people holding those cups with pride realise, as they handed them back, what it truly meant to have won them a year ago,” Sili-Mireta said.
“Students are reminded that success is earned anew each year, and that every school begins again with the potential and possibility, wondering whether they will be holding those cups at the end of the festival.”
“Polyfest has always been about more than performance,” she emphasised.
“It’s about growing leaders who are grounded in culture and confident about their place in the world.”
Press release issued by the University of Auckland on its involvement in the ASB Polyfest Sāmoa Stage celebrations.
