About 500 kindergarten, primary and secondary school pupils from around the district took part in the 2015 North Otago Kaupapa Maori Festival Hui Ako yesterday.
The inaugural festival was held in 2009, with performances then by exclusively primary-school-aged children.
Held every two years, it has grown to include kindergartens and secondary schools from around North Otago.
Yesterday's event had to be held in two sessions because it had become too big for the St Kevin's College auditorium.
Children from Casa Nova Kindergarten and Glen Warren/Te Ana a Raki Kindergarten opened the event, and were followed by performances from Oamaru North School, St Joseph's School, Pembroke School, Waitaki Girls' High School, Hampden School, Totara School, Fenwick School, Weston School, Waitaki Boys' High School, Ardgowan School, Oamaru Intermediate School and St Kevin's College.
Ardgowan School had the largest presence at the event, with 137 pupils taking part.
Publicity co-ordinator Tracey Bell said the event was an opportunity for pupils to showcase what they had learnt from their study of Maori culture and celebrate Maori heritage.
