Standing with the Ancestors: Fifty Years of Polyfest by Edith Amituanai and Susan Paris is a rich non-fiction text that celebrates Pacific youth, culture, and identity through the lens of Auckland’s Polyfest. Centred on students from Manurewa High School, the text explores how performing arts, language, and collective commitment connect young people to their ancestors, communities, and cultural values.

Through personal stories, historical context, and contemporary voices, students examine how culture is learned, lived, and passed on through dancing, singing, rehearsals, and festival performance. The text supports deep discussion about identity, leadership, belonging, and the role of schools and communities in sustaining Pacific cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Thanks to the Ministry of Education for producing this text. 

Key words include: ancestors, Aotearoa New Zealand, Auckland, belonging, culture, community, dancing, diversity, education, festivals, identity, leadership, Manurewa High School, Pacific, Pacific cultures, Pacific youth, performing arts, Polyfest, rehearsals, schools, singing, social connection, student voice, teamwork, Tonga, Tongan culture, Tongan language, Tongans, tradition, youth