Central Lakes Polyfest returns for fifth year
The 2024 programme of events for Central Lakes Polyfest will be the biggest one yet. Organisers are excited to deliver the two-day programme of non-competitive cultural performing arts at Queenstown Events Centre. Over 1,000 participants from around Central Otago, from early childhood through to secondary students, will take the stage.
Aroha Solomon looks after the Queenstown side of Polyfest – previously a lot of the communications between the event and the schools in our region were via email, but now Solomon can be here on the ground and make contact. She looks after all the surrounding regions including Clyde, Alexandra and Wānaka. She’s looking forward to the upcoming two days of performances.
“We’re a non-competitive cultural event, so we do encourage Maori and Pasifika arts and culture, however our Polyfest is open to all people that want to participate,” Solomon says. “It’s 70% non-Maori, in fact. It’s just about having that platform and that showcase for people to be able to get up and celebrate their culture.”
The event is well supported by local schools and teachers, who get behind the initiative and are pivotal in helping to make the event run smoothly. For those wanting to check out the event, it’s a gold-coin Koha, while to register to be involved is free. Solomon wanted to make special thanks to all that help bring this together.
“There’s always room for everybody to partake. We’ve got some great volunteers, we’ve got 15 from Wakatipu High School. The thing about the volunteers is that it’s all about empowering those – especially Maori and Pasifika rangatahi, children, to have a go at being leaders in their own right. Day one, they’re following the lead of our key leaders, then day two, they’re almost running the show.”
They love to see new volunteers come through each year to support and guide them into becoming their own leaders – it’s a big part of their Kaupapa. They’re excited to welcome us all to the action-packed schedule ahead and are receiving lots of feedback from excited groups who are getting their performances polished and ready.
Central Lakes Polyfest will take place 9am - 3pm Wednesday, 23 October, and 9.30am - 2pm, Thursday, 24 October. For more info head to miharo.co.nz
