Participation rates for the Otago Polyfest were the highest they have been for several years, organisers say.
The 31st iteration of the five-day event began with a mihi whakatau (official welcome) and opening performances at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin yesterday.
Trustee member Fiona Matapo said there were more than 160 groups from all over Otago participating and several thousand performers, from high school, primary school, kohanga reo and kindergarten.
There will also be performances from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti, the only full immersion Māori kura in Otago.
"It’s the biggest number we’ve had since Covid-19. We’re actually full", Ms Matapo said.
"We hope people get a sense of pride that we can deliver a festival as big as this.
"Some schools have got such large numbers of participants that they’ve had to split it up into two groups... many of the schools have been practising since the start of the year."
The festival was "well into its second, and possibly third" generation of performers.
Ms Matapo, who said she was looking forward to seeing her own mokopuna on the stage, said there was a "real sense of sustainability" to the festival.
"We have a group of managers who have grown up as Polyfest performers. When they first came to Polyfest, they were children, and now they’re taking up senior roles.
"The new ones are always coming through."
Otago Polyfest runs at the Edgar Centre until Friday.
