Otago Polyfest marks 30 years of performances and cultural events

Thousands of young people have been performing in Dunedin in New Zealand's South Island for Otago Polyfest which marks 30 years of celebrating Pacific and Māori culture.

More than 140 early childhood centres and schools, from toddlers to teens, are taking part in this year's festival featuring kapa haka and Pacific Island performances.

Otago Polyfest is one of the oldest festivals in Aotearoa promoting indigenous culture, language and arts across the Pacific.

More than 4500 rangatahi aged 3-19 years old are taking part.

Pesamino Tili has been to almost every Otago Polyfest since it first began in 1993 as only a half-day event.

He has evolved with the festival, first performing, now leading team performances as well as stage managing for the week-long event.

"One of the kids asked me... 'are you Polyfest?' Because they saw Polyfest on my T-shirt. They asked 'have you been here for 30 years?' I laughed and said almost!"

Creative New Zealand (the Arts Council of New Zealand) had provided a grant of more than $NZ200,000 over two years to allow 12 paid roles for Otago Polyfest.

Festival Director Tanya Muagututi'a said the 30th anniversary was about recognising indigenous legacy in the South Island, and that it was validating for community leaders who have been doing these roles for decades to be "acknowledged and elevated."

There are 30 Pacific festivals around New Zealand but Otago Polyfest is one of the oldest, she said.

"Our Pasifika families came here in 1940s. Some of them ended up down here."

It is about "honouring the generations of our parents.. many of them are passing away".

"This festival honours the generations who have come as babies performing, volunteering, now working, now leading and are part of the team now," she said.

Some of the students from St Joseph's Cathedral School told RNZ Pacific they loved taking part because it helped them to "express their culture, feelings and emotions".

Volunteer teacher Melissa Chan-Mow said there had been a lot of hard work in the lead-up.

"We've had 23 students dedicated to two terms of practice during a cold Dunedin winter."

Laurey Tuiavi'i Maxwell couldn't be more proud of her daughter Freya performing with St Joseph's.

"I get emotional thinking about it because it means a lot seeing her getting involved in her culture. It's beautiful seeing all the different schools celebrating."

Iconic Pacific musicians Ardijah wrap-up the festival on Friday.