Steven Hargreaves: Polyfest Trust Chair on Government not delivering enough in promised funding boost

One of New Zealand’s largest performing arts events has been forced to scale back. 

Polyfest organisers say they were promised a boost in funding from Pacific Peoples Minister Shane Reti, and given assurances the money would come through from Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. 

When the time came, the boost was just $5000 – which Polyfest Trust Chair Steven Hargreaves tells Tim Beveridge is not an influential amount for an event that costs $2 million to put on. 

“It’s an investment in the youth. The Government have talked a lot this year about school attendance, school engagement, achievement, literacy and numeracy. Polyfest can deliver on all of those fronts.” 

Last year’s event drew 80,000 visitors with 8000 students performing. This year’s event will see a stage dropped to scale back on cost. 

The Ministry says "The Ministry remains committed to supporting Polyfest alongside other government agencies and encourages other sponsors to get behind this important event for the Pacific community in Auckland."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:16):
Grant Now, one of New Zealand's largest performing arts events,
has been forced to scale back. Polyfest will not be
receiving a sixty thousand dollars boost in funding as previously
promised by Pacific People's Minister Shane Retti. Organizers of the
cultural festival so they received assurance from the Deputy Prime
Minister Winston Peters the money would come through and Polyfest

(00:37):
Trust Cherries. Also Principal of Mclin's College, Stephen Hargreaves joins me.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Now, good morning, good morning ten.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
How disappointing is this news.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
Look, I got have just straighten something out. First. We
were promised by the Ministry of Pacific People's fifty five
thousand dollars for this year's festival and sixty thousand for
the next year's festival. And that's coming through.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Which one's coming through?

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Sorry, So we have got the sixty thousand for next year.
We've got fifty five thousand this year. We also get
some money from Creative and z a MB But like
you've just alluded to there in your intro. We were
promised a boost and that's the bit that hasn't come through.
They know that in our discussions with them that we're
in a really financially tight situation. And the boost, if

(01:26):
they think five thousand dollars from fifty five to sixty
years a boost for an event that costs about two
million dollars to put on. That's the frustration, and that's
why we've gone public to let people know that we
were needing support. Financial support, whether that's from government or
private support has been where our arms are open.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
I guess a lot of people would listen. And if
you've just set a two million dollar budget and fifty
five sixty thousand dollars isn't as big a deal as
it might be in terms of something that might threaten
the poly fest?

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Is this?

Speaker 2 (01:57):
I mean we're entitled sort of circumstances. Shouldn't you guys
basically just be cutting your cloth to suit the circumstances?
Or is that a bit tough?

Speaker 3 (02:07):
Look? I hear you totally, healthcare, road and education. Everybody's
got their hand out for money and they're all being cut. Yes,
we are grateful for the money we get and in
a two million dollar budget. Five thousand dollars or sixty
thousand dollars isn't going to put the event in jeopardy.
But I guess my point here is that this is

(02:29):
an investment in the youth. The government have talked a
lot this year about school attendance, school engagement, achievement, literacy
and numeracy, and polyfests can deliver on all of those fronts.
And I know that there are other events, for instance,
that hip hop event. They're by fact seven hundred and
fifty thousand plus another seven to fifty from central government.
You know they've got money, and well done to the

(02:51):
m fair Play also have friends at Tematatimi. They've done
very very well to secure their funding and again well
done to them. But these are in the tens of millions.
So for us to receive some support, I think we
could deliver you know exactly what the government's after.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Well, yeah, this is a pretty big festival. Do you
think you're being a bit underappreciated in terms of the
role you played in well, not just to your community,
but you know the New Zealand cultural scene.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yes, I think we are. You know, eighty thousand students, sorry,
eighty thousand visitors came. Last year, eight thousand students perform.
You know, these are students who, you know, experience an
opportunity to connect with culture, language, and their heritage. Are
very positive connections to school. They can achieve MCA credits

(03:40):
and I think that that does need to be appreciated
a little more.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, and how I mean, how much are you actually
having to scale back? Hopefully it's not too painful for you.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
No, it's not too painful. We're running five stages instead
of six, our event directors having to work out of
home now we've had to give up their office space.
There is a zero waste initiative we've been doing. That'll
be peered back a bit and then we're just going
back to our contractors on you know, fencing, Porterloo's road
traffic management and saying hey, look we're in a quite

(04:08):
blind to you. Can you help? Oh?

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Well, good luck, Stave. I really appreciate your time this morning,
and look forward to a great poly Fest.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
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