The 32nd Tai Tokerau Secondary Schools Festival begins today with around 22 Northland schools expected at Bream Bay College, the host for this year's event.
A feast of dancing and singing, the non-competitive event gives students a chance to share their cultural performances, including haka and poi, based around an annual
theme.
This year the theme is "identity" and the interpretation is likely to be as varied as the number of schools attending.
Students, tutors and teachers are billeted by the host school which changes each year. Next year the honour will fall to Okaihau College.
Organisers say feeding the numbers is a huge task for the hosts, but the festival is well supported by community groups and school staff.
The menu includes everything from packed lunches and takeaways to pig on a spit and a hangi.
A powhiri opens the festival at 10am, and Bream Bay will kick off the performances in the gymnasium at 12.30pm.
Duplicate performances will be held throughout the festival with each group performing for a second time in the auditorium half an hour later.
Three Kaipara schools will be included in the two-day programme.
Head of Maori studies at Ruawai College Winnie Clarke said Ruawai had been attending since the festival first began.
The kapa haka this year has been tutored by Ted Heteraka with Virginia Drake tutoring poi and students have been practising diligently for their performances.
Ripeka Paraone, Maori studies head at Dargaville High School, said 40 performers from Dargaville would entertain audiences at 9.30am and 10am tomorrow.
Five of the school's seven items are original numbers written for the occasion by Mrs Paraone and her son Kerepeti.
This year the school with the help of the community have made new uniforms and will wear moko based on the kauri, the school's symbol.
Last year's host, Otamatea High School, will also be taking centre stage with new uniforms designed and sewn by the college's fashion teacher, Elizabeth van de Berg. Otamatea was to perform today.
The cultural festival is open to the public on both days and will be broadcast live on Ngati Hine FM.
