ASB Polyfest is drawing about 10,000 student performers this week. Organisers say funding still gets negotiated year by year.
Festival director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu says the event, now in its 51st year, relies on sponsors, funders and community support to keep going. “It is frustrating to have to justify every year why we exist and why we should happen,” Seiuli said.
This year 73 schools and 263 groups are entered across the week-long programme at the Manukau Sports Bowl. The outdoor setting brings extra logistical work, and weather risk can add to costs.
How many students and schools are performing at polyfest 2026?
Seiuli says the numbers on stage do not show the workload behind the scenes. “We’re more than a four-day event,” she said.
She says Polyfest is “a 365 [day] commitment to our young people and their families and what they’re doing in school”. Teachers, parents and communities spend months preparing students for cultural performance and competition.
Polyfest remains one of New Zealand’s largest cultural events for secondary school students. It has run for more than half a century and has been based at the Manukau Sports Bowl since the mid-1990s.
It is frustrating to have to justify every year why we exist and why we should happen.
Why ASB polyfest organisers say long-term funding is still shaky
Seiuli says inflation keeps pushing the budget up. “Every year costs go up. And that’s just the reality of it,” she said.
She says the festival has to keep returning to funders. “When it comes to funding, every year we’re having to talk to funders,” Seiuli said.
Organisers work with government agencies, philanthropic organisations and sponsors to make sure the festival continues. In South Auckland, Polyfest sits alongside other big community moments, including the Papatoetoe by-election, that also compete for public attention and resources.
What auckland council and the ministry for pacific peoples are doing
Auckland Council is one of the key supporters, including providing access to the Manukau Sports Bowl venue. Seiuli says that relationship matters as participation keeps climbing. “There’s a lot of growth, and we need to prepare for that growth,” she said.
Council says Polyfest competes with many events for limited public funding. Rachel Kelleher, director of community at Auckland Council, said the festival receives consistent support through the regional event grants programme.
“Auckland Council is a long-running supporter of the ASB Polyfest, with funding allocated every year since amalgamation to assist with the festival’s running costs,” Kelleher said.
Seiuli says a funding strategy is being developed with support from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to look for more sustainable options. She said, “We’ve been working on a funding strategy over the last year,” and, “We’re looking at what that may look like going forward.”
How polyfest’s online audiences are changing the event
Seiuli says Polyfest now has a bigger international audience, with families overseas watching performances online. “We know that we also have a massive international appeal,” she said.
That wider reach adds to expectations on organisers, schools and volunteers. It also strengthens the case for stable backing, as the festival becomes a cultural showcase far beyond Auckland.
Public feedback on local budgets also shapes what councils can fund. Aucklanders can make submissions through the council consultation process outlined in Auckland Annual Plan feedback.
For more on how central agencies support Pacific communities, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website sets out its programmes and priorities.
Polyfest continues at the Manukau Sports Bowl through the week, with organisers planning for further growth in 2027.
