Polyfest (the Auckland secondary schools Polynesian cultural festival) first started in 1976 , with the inaugural event held in Ōtara, Auckland.

Quick Scoop

  • The first Polyfest was held in 1976 in South Auckland, created as a space for secondary school students to celebrate Polynesian cultures.
  • Early festivals involved just four Auckland schools, including Hillary College (now Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate), Māngere College, Seddon College, and Aorere College.
  • Sources differ slightly on the exact first host (some say Hillary College, others emphasise Māngere College as host), but all agree the festival began in 1976 in the Ōtara/Mangere area.

In short: if you’re asking “when did Polyfest start,” the widely accepted answer is 1976 in South Auckland, New Zealand.

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Key detail Answer
Year Polyfest started 1976
Location South Auckland (Ōtara/Māngere area)
Original participating schools Hillary College, Māngere College, Seddon College, Aorere College
**TL;DR:** Polyfest started in **1976** as a small South Auckland secondary schools cultural festival and has since grown into one of the world’s largest Polynesian cultural events.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.