Kia ora e te whānau o te kura,
As Kaitataki Wāhine of our school’s Kapa Haka rōpū, I had the privilege of attending the ASB Polyfest Leaders Conference for 2025. This year’s conference was particularly special, as we are celebrating 50 years of Polyfest. The theme for this year's Polyfest is a “Legacy: A treasure handed down – He oha nō tua, he taonga tuku iho.” This theme highlights the taonga passed down by our tūpuna and the responsibility we have as rangatahi to honour and preserve them for future generations.
I had the pleasure of attending the event alongside 18 incredible peers from our school: Yuki Woon, Mehnaz Intisar, Mafa Levi, Lisa Chieu, Christylle Renn Igor, Lydia Mathew, Chazzandra Gascon, Vilfred Crawley, Kauri Tairi, Indi Botting, Charlotte Dye, Jimmy Egginton, Max Robb-Markham, Blessing Auvaa, Dorah Ata, Praveena M S and Lok Yean Yong. Together, we embraced the opportunity to learn, grow, and represent our kura and cultures with pride.
Highlights from the Conference
Day One – 22nd January:
• AWMM Amazing Race: We started the day with an exciting challenge at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This activity allowed us to discover taonga and learn about the cultural significance of Māori and Pacific artifacts. Each piece told a story of connection, resilience, and identity, reminding us of the treasures we carry within our own whakapapa.
• Pese Workshop: Led by the talented Fepulea’i Helen Tupa’i, we participated in vocal exercises and learned two powerful songs: ‘The Climb’ and ‘Melodies from Heaven.’ These songs carried messages of hope, strength, and perseverance, reinforcing the importance of storytelling through music.
Day Two – 23rd January:
• Impromptu Speech Competition: This activity challenged us to step out of our comfort zones, think critically under pressure, and express our ideas with confidence. It was an excellent opportunity to develop our public speaking skills while exploring what the term Legacy means to us.
• Siva Workshop: Facilitated by the inspiring Tyler Tupu, this workshop combined hip-hop with traditional cultural dances, including kapa haka, siva, tauʻolunga, and many other beautiful cultural forms of expression. This session celebrated the unity in our diversity and richness of our collective cultural identities.
• Wellbeing Workshop: The Le Va | I AM session focused on hauora and the importance of nurturing our mental wellbeing as leaders. It encouraged us to reflect on our resilience, identity, and the balance needed to lead effectively while staying true to ourselves.
The ASB Polyfest Leaders Conference was an unforgettable experience that left us inspired and ready to lead with aroha, authenticity and pride. The 2025 theme, “He oha nō tua, he taonga tuku iho – A treasure handed down,” reminded us that the legacy of our tūpuna lives within us, and it is our responsibility to embrace, protect, and share it.
As we look ahead to Polyfest 2025, we carry with us the lessons learned from this conference and the determination to honour our heritage. Together, we will ensure that the treasures from all our cultures continue to shine brightly for future generations.
Please find below the reflections of my fellow participants who attended the conference and important information about joining Polyfest this year too.
by Samara Hohaia
The Polyfest Leaders Conference felt electric, the unity I felt was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Seriously, one person would start to sing, and 200 others would join, with harmonies and actions. These were people that believed in legacy, who believed in family, hard work, and community. These values are often overlooked, or taken for granted, especially by myself. We talked a lot about the negative stereotypes in the media and this was new to me.Being one of the only two white guys in that room I thought this fact would come with some pushback, but not once did I feel excluded, or poked fun at. The people I met there taught me, inspired me, made me laugh especially; I remember performing a song we’d learnt in the museum court, it was a slow song, gospel, we started swaying together, and one kid at the back starts screaming; “LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT” like a drill Sergeant.
I felt like John Lennon after he returned from India with the Beatles, I needed this conference more than I knew. 2025 is gonna be a big year, well, it’s gonna be the same size as every other year, but figuratively speaking, it’s gonna be a massively obese dozen months, I want to give this experience to as many others as I can, I want to spread the love I felt there, I want to share this unity I felt in the music, in the energy, and in the spirit. Being a follower is easy, but leadership takes work, courage and passion. At the conference, I felt that all of us were leaders in one way or another
by Jimmy Egginton
The 2025 Polyfest leadership Conference showed me the importance of cultural heritage on our identity, and how to let it empower us to become confident leaders. The workshops and activities were very fun and impactful!
by Indi Botting
I gained invaluable insights into leadership as each group shared their perspectives during the workshop. It was a great opportunity to learn more about Pacifika culture and the significance of Polyfest. I found myself reflecting on my own culture and family values. The TikTok challenge was a lot of fun, and I was fortunate to have such supportive group members. They created a welcoming atmosphere and even asked for my input on incorporating Chinese dance moves into the challenge.
by Lok Yean Yong
The Polyfest Leader’s conference this year left a lasting impression on me, teaching me the importance of reflecting on my values and my culture. The Le Va workshop had me thinking about who I am as an individual, and the legacy that I want to leave behind. It was beautiful watching everyone take the time to talk about their identity, learn about each other’s cultures and grow outside of their comfort zone to take part in the different workshops that we took part in.
by Praveena M S
The Wellbeing Workshop with Le Va left a lasting impression on me. We were guided through an activity (I Am) that asked us to reflect on our cultural values, whakapapa, and the legacies we carry. Although I didn’t finish writing my piece, I was struck by the moment when I thought about the strength of my tīpuna and how their resilience lives on in me. Writing about spirituality and the connection to my whānau reminded me of my responsibility to honour them in everything I do. It was powerful to hear others share their thoughts, and it reinforced the importance of leading with heart and grounding myself in my identity.
by Samara Reede
Polyfest Leaders conference was an invaluable experience for everyone who went. Not sharing a drop of Polynesian blood myself did not matter as I was still immersed in what Polyfest means. Talking to other students there also led me to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of Polyfest for people wanting to express their cultures. Overall I was grateful to go to the Polyfest Leaders Conference and glad that I had this opportunity to experience this event.
by Max RobbMarkham
The 2025 Polyfest Leadership Conference was the first time I truly put myself out there as a leader, instead of the usual follower. With that, I found that I could leave the conference confidently, knowing that I can actually lead others to success while also supporting those I follow, ensuring they know their importance to the community. Although I am not part of the Pasifika community myself, being able to sit in that room and be blessed with the sounds and movements of those who are Pasifika left me in awe. I felt inspired and truly grateful for the opportunity. The Polyfest conference, overall, gave me the knowledge I lacked about the diverse cultures in that room and made me feel more in touch with who I truly am, for which I am thankful.
by Charlotte Dye
I found the Polyfest Leaders Conference 2025 experience to be quite engaging. It was a very interactive event that encouraged a learning environment where I had a chance to observe the different styles of leadership in each team. It made me think of ways on how I can be a better leader for my team. I also had the opportunity to understand more about Polyfest origin stories and what the Pacifika culture means. Furthermore, all the workshops were amazing, with favorites including singing, dancing competitions, and the Le Va wellbeing session. These experiences enriched not only my knowledge of different cultures and their traditions but also were times for valuable personal reflection. It was then that I realized how important it is to leave behind a legacy, and that, as generations, we bear a certain responsibility to preserve and pass it on to further generations.
by Mehnaz Intisar
It was a well spent two days of the holiday. It was a great line - up of activities. The highlight for me was the dance challenge.We practiced in groups and did different dances but in the end it turned out to be one beautiful dance segment. It showed off our teamwork and how all the schools eventually came together as one! The workshops we participated in were incredibly fun and educational. The organisers did an amazing job and you can see their passion for the event and Polyfest.
by Lisa Chieu
Polyfest Sign-Ups
If you would like to join the different Rutherford groups ( Kapa Haka, Samoan group, Cook Islands group, Indian dance, Chinese dance and Filipino group ) for this year’s Polyfest, then please register your interest at https://form.jotform.com/233036536358862. Any student from Year 9 to Year 13 can join us. For more information on Polyfest 2025 you can visit https://www.asbpolyfest.co.nz/ .
Fund Raising for Polyfest
Do help support our groups going for Polyfest by purchasing samosas at the following link:
Samoan Group Samosa Fundraiser
