Programmes & EVENTS
KAUPAPA
Central lakes
polyfest 2026
It's time!
Mīharo Central Lakes Polyfest 2026b is on live at the Queenstown Events Centre from Tuesday 20th- Wednesday 21st October. With a back to back 9am-3pm schedule, we couldn't be more excited!
The full programme will be available soon, and you can click the tab above to watch the livestream each day from 8:55am.
Murihiku Polyfest
The biggest annual event at Mīharo, Murihiku Polyfest, is a week long festival for cultural performing arts. With over 8500 performers and tens of thousands of spectators, both online and in person, this is one of the regions biggest spectacles.
Murihiku Polyfest is open to groups from early childhood through to secondary schools. Groups work on their brackets year long, before taking to the stage in August each year. Due to the success of our combined online event in 2021, Polyfest is now delivered both in person and live streamed on our website.
The full programme for Murihiku Polyfest will be available soon on our website and Facebook page.
CENTRAL LAKES
POLYFEST
Central Lakes Polyfest is a two-day, non-competitive cultural performing arts event held at the Queenstown Events Centre. Over 1,000 participants from around Central Otago, from early childhood through to secondary students, take the stage to perform.
Groups work on their brackets throughout the year and the event is held in October. For any questions, please email 'fogafu@miharo.org'
RANGATAHI TOA
One of the biggest cultural nights in Murihiku, Rangatahi Toa is held during Murihiku Polyfest week on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
This is a special showcase event for our high school groups to perform and showcase the amazing talents and pieces they've been working on throughout the year.
Rangatahi Toa is held at the ILT Stadium Southland, and entry to this event is Gold Coin for spectators.
WHAKAMANAHIA TE RANGATAHI
Whakamanahia Te Rangatahi is a year long Youth Mentoring programme designed to support, mentor and guide local youth to strengthen their understanding of culture, leadership and identity. Spaces for this programme are limited. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact anjelina@miharo.org to register, or visit the tab above for more information.
ART EXHIBITION & AWARDS
We invite all tamariki and rangatahi from Murihiku and Central Lakes to design artworks based on a theme. These art pieces are then judged and displayed in an exhibition.
There is a prizegiving and official exhibition opening night, with each exhibition running for around 4-6 weeks each year.
The theme for 2026 is Legends Of Our Lands- Our people, Our places, Our stories. We have resources and an example unit available here.
Entry forms are available.
LEGENDS OF OUR LANDS EXHIBITION & AWARDS NIGHT
Each year we host an art awards and exhibition for Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary students, as well as our open 18-25 year old category. This kaupapa is a chance to celebrate identity, creativity, and stories through art, following the theme of "Legends of Our Lands- Our people, Our places, Our Stories''.
This years exhibition has now closed, but stay tuned for more details about next years exhibition!
Mīharo Art exhibition
CENTRAL LAKES
Following our Murihiku Art Exhibition, we are extremely excited to present the annual Central Lakes Art Exhibition and Awards.
This exhibition, themed "Legends of Our Lands: Our People, Our Places, Our Stories," is open to the public from Thursday 24 September.
We received 70 entries from almost 700 tamariki in ECE, Primary, and Secondary Schools.
All entries are on display at Te Atamira Gallery, Frankton, until October 21.
2026 T-Shirt Design Competition
Congratulations to the winners of our annual t-shirt design competition, Tohu Tautua (symbol of service)!
This years theme is 'Legends of Our Lands- Our People, Our Places, Our Stories.'
We are lucky to have designs from:
Beauden Alister O'Brien (Murihiku)
Esther Fukofuka & Elizabeth Engstrom (Central Lakes)
Templates for our 2027 competitions will be available in the next few months.
Make sure to download a template and take the chance to have your design printed onto our 2026 Polyfest t-shirts, worn by hundreds of volunteers!