17 Mar 2026
Last year was a big one for Mīharo Murihiku Trust, as the team delivered two major projects: the Murihiku Polyfest 2025 and the Mīharo Murihiku Art Awards 2025, with the support of the Arts Organisations and Groups Fund.
August saw Murihiku Polyfest 2025 returned to Stadium Southland, Invercargill, marking 16 years of the festival. Over the course of a week, tamariki and rangatahi from across the region performed traditional and contemporary items on stage.
The event brought together 9,000 performers from kura, primary and secondary schools, as well as community groups. Nearly 51,000 people attended throughout the week, showing the community’s enthusiasm for cultural engagement.
Behind the scenes, the festival was supported by over 200 volunteers, which included 60 rangatahi from Miharo’s Whakamanahia Te Rangatahi programme, who helped guide performers, support kura and assist whānau throughout the event.
Audiences could engage through multiple channels. Performances were live-streamed and later uploaded to YouTube, while regular social media updates gave online viewers a front-row seats of the action.
Tania Carran (Kāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Tainui), General Manager, says the strong turnout signals the community’s appetite for the arts.
“Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and the turnout shows how much people value these events. Seeing thousands of young people take the stage while being supported by their peers and whānau is heartwarming. It shows the importance of creating spaces where our communities can come together,” Tania says.
Following the festival, the team delivered its Mīharo Murihiku Art Awards in June, coinciding with the opening of its exhibition. It welcomed over 350 whānau and community members, all eager to support emerging talent.
Over six weeks, the exhibition invited tamariki and rangatahi to share their stories through visual arts and gain hands-on experience in an exhibition. From over 1,000 entries, 106 works were selected, with themes reflecting Māori, Pacific, and multicultural experiences.
Despite minor setbacks, these initiatives show Mīharo’s ability to programme large-scale events that attract diverse audiences and generate positive outcomes. Feedback from participants and the community showed feelings of belonging and pride for the cultural arts. For rangatahi, the events offered opportunities to grow, with many stepping up into leadership roles by volunteering or performing.
The local economy received a welcome boost, with audiences and visiting performers supporting hospitality and transport businesses, while the event created opportunities for local suppliers and volunteering roles. Funding support also played a key role in keeping these opportunities accessible and inclusive, enabling people to engage in ways that uplift their social, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing.
“These initiatives are creating strong foundations for what comes next. By investing in our young people and our communities now, we’re helping ensure the arts and cultural ecosystem of Murihiku continue to grow and be shared for many years to come,” Tania says.
Visit our website for more information on the Arts Organisations and Groups Fund