Hundreds of secondary school students from New Zealand's capital Wellington will take to the stage tonight for the annual Tu Tangata Polynesian festival.
The only festival of its kind in Wellington, Tu Tangata which celebrates its 30th anniversary, provides a stage where schools can showcase their Maori and Pacific culture.
The festival, initiated by former Secretary of Maori Affairs, Kara Puketapu, was predominently Maori but changed to Polynesian over the years.
A move which doesn't concern Mr Puketapu.
"Maori came from the pacific in our chants in our language and our geneology that's how we talk on the marae about where we came from, and we came from one place Hawaiki Atua and all our language chants and songs are brought here and we develop them from here."
Five colleges will take in the event hosted by Laughing Samoan's comedian Tofiga Fepulea'i.
