The ASB Polyfest is helping shape the next generation of Pacific leaders, as the University of Auckland marked 50 years of the Sāmoa Stage at the annual festival in Manukau.

The four-day event, held from 18 to 21 March, brought together secondary school students from across the country to showcase Maori and Pacific cultures through performance.

Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Sili-Mireta Ropati said Polyfest is more than a cultural event, describing it as a pathway to leadership for young people.

“As sponsors of the Sāmoa Stage, we continue to invest in Pacific youth,” she said. 

“Polyfest helps build confidence, responsibility, and leadership.”

The university also sent a team of Pacific student ambassadors to support the event. Many of them once performed at Polyfest themselves and said the experience helped them grow.

Sili Mireta said the ambassadors gained new skills by helping organise and run a large event, while supporting performers and visitors.

“Young people are our future. Among them are future scholars, innovators, and leaders,” she said.

Sili Mireta said her own journey began at Polyfest, where she served as a student ambassador more than a decade ago.

“Polyfest also teaches discipline, teamwork, and resilience, as students prepare for months to compete,” she said.

The new events this year highlighted the importance of humility and sportsmanship. Previous winners returned their championship cups before the competition began.

Sili Mireta said the gesture reminded students that success must be earned each year again.

“Polyfest has always been about more than performance,” she said. “It’s about growing leaders who are grounded in culture and confident in who they are.”