Time to widen the school festival mix

The mainly non-Indian lineup of the James Cook High School's Indian dance team delighted spectators. Picture / Martin Sykes

Organisers of this year's Auckland Maori and Pacific Island secondary schools cultural festival have been urged to allow greater Asian participation at the event.

With crowds flocking to the dazzling costumes and pulsating Indian tunes that dominated one of five stages yesterday on the first day of the three-day festival, performers and spectators have called for an increased presence of non-Polynesian cultural performances.

The festival, in its 30th year, has stages for Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, and Niuean competitors, with the mainly Asian performers allotted 4 1/2 hours on day one for non-competition displays.

The 35 schools at the Manukau Sports Bowl for the event included Assyrian, Sri Lankan, Middle Eastern, Chinese and Korean performances in their displays.

Lynfield College performer Karthika Shivangani said she was proud to show her culture's traditional dance to a multicultural audience.

She believed the time had come for greater participation for other cultures, and urged organisers to provide a dedicated Indian performance stage next year.

Robin Veeran of Botany Downs agrees. He believed it was time the event better reflected Auckland's growing multicultural mix.

The selection of food on offer was evidence of that diversity, with crackling barbecues alongside popular Asian food stalls, hangi and baked taro competing with the hot dogs drenched in tomato sauce.

Thunderous haka contrasted with the vibrant colours or Indian dances, the soaring harmony of waiata and the exotic blend of an Assyrian tune.

But it was James Cook High School's Indian dance team which bought the greatest roar from the crowd. The 18-strong team, draped in traditional Indian attire and dancing to a Punjab tune, were mainly Pakeha, Maori, Pacific Island, and Middle Eastern performers.

The performance by non-Indians delighted Indian-born Anil Luthra, of Mt Wellington. He said it was special to see non-Indians involved in his culture: ""It's a good sign for race relations."

Spectator Deborah Grant, of Tainui descent, said the atmosphere at the stand was electric.

She urged promoters to expand participation of Auckland's growing ethnic cultures.

Event spokesman Craig Seuseu said calls to increase the cultural range were not new.

"Our kaupapa is to be inclusive."

He said space limitations meant more stages were not possible, and another site might be needed.

The festival is the largest of its kind in the world, with around 10,000 performers and more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend.