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How good was Polyfest 2023?
After four years of disruption, high schoolers all over Auckland finally got the Polyfest they had been waiting for.
It was estimated about 60,000 people attended Polyfest last week, where 8000 students from 181 cultural groups representing 55 schools performed traditional speech, song and dance.
It’s the first time in several years that the festival has gone ahead without a hitch, following cancellations due to the Christchurch terror attacks in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
For most, it’s not about the win, but the chance to celebrate their culture and embrace their Pasifika heritage.
Manurewa High School’s Sarai Makara-Moreland, 16, was completely out of breath as she stepped off the Cook Islands stage following their high-energy performance.
She said it was a “real privilege” and “a blessing” to get on stage tell the audience: “Hey look, this is my culture. This is where I’m from.”
“The most important thing was we made it up there, and we performed as a team. We are going out, win or lose, as a team.”
Read more of our coverage at Stuff.co.nz, and tell us below - did you watch or compete at Polyfest? How did it go?
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Give old items a new life: book your inorganic collection
☀️ Making the most of the fine weather to clear out clutter? Book your annual inorganic collection, and we'll pick up the items straight from your property.
From scrap metal and whiteware to bikes and laptops, we work with over 150 community organisations to give items a second life—repairing, repurposing, and reusing them. ♻️
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Dementia Friendly Living at Ryman
All of Ryman’s New Zealand villages have gained a Dementia Friendly Accreditation as recognised by Alzheimers New Zealand.
This reflects our commitment to creating safe, supportive communities to improve the experiences of residents living with dementia.
Our purpose-built care centres and personalised support ensure residents feel comfortable and secure while maintaining their independence.
We offer specialist dementia care at Bert Sutcliffe Village in Birkenhead.
Click the read more below to learn more about our dementia friendly approach.
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This week's prize winners
Congratulations to the winners of the $100 grocery vouchers. The winners are:
Blair Roddick from Blenheim
Greer Bell from Snells Beach
Dorothy Burt from Levin
Hannah Rice from Aranui
Winners must get in touch with us here before Tuesday, 25th February to claim their prize.
Not a winner this time? Never fear, there's always next week.
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