Annual Polyfest Festival Canceled Following Christchurch Incident

The Annual Polyfest Festival that was to be held in Auckland has been canceled following the Christchurch mass shooting in which about 50 Muslims were killed.

Seiuli Mauu and Gregory Pierce, the Polyfest Organizers, said the safety and well-being of the student performers and the public is paramount. The organizers said the Christchurch incident has unsettled their performers. “If the event had gone ahead, there would have been a significant presence of heavily armed police at the festival, which would not have been appropriate for Saturday’s family day focus at the ASB Polyfest.”

The event would have had more than 80 groups performing dances on the Diversity Stage from Asia, the Pacific, Africa and for the first time from the Middle East.