What started as a one-night-cultural showcase for seven local schools has grown into one of the Hutt Valley’s biggest celebrations of Pacific and Māori culture.
Founded in 2012 by Koraunui School teacher Luana Leulua’i, HuttFest was created to give young people a platform to proudly share their culture, without the pressures of competition.
Hundreds of students formed 87 groups that took to the stage at Lower Hutt’s Walter Nash Centre over five days – continuing Luana’s vision of celebrating identity, community and belonging through performance.
For many of the young people taking part, HuttFest is all about taking the chance to connect with their culture and share it with others.
Festival director Vaito Eleni shared how the festival gives students a space where culture, participation and identity can thrive.
“What we’re finding with the stage itself is that it’s about enjoyment, it is about participation, and it’s also about our own kids as they grow older into college life itself, they are grabbing onto the identity if they haven’t already, and they’re enjoying it, that’s what the stage is about.”
HuttFest includes students from ECE through to college levels.
RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
Tyanah Mai-Hetutu Bahm and Mya Taulelei from Rātā Street School were nervous to perform, but proud to celebrate their heritage.
“HuttFest to me is celebrating all cultures and like including every culture in New Zealand and everywhere in the earth,” Tyanah said.
“My favorite thing at HuttFest is to learn about the cultures and support perform them, and to get to know everyone,” Mya added.
Mya Taulelei, Tyanah Mai-Hetutu Bahm, Poseidon Nicholls and Eli Phillips from Rātā Street School.
RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
For their peers Eli Phillips and Poseidon Nicholls, it is about simply enjoying the experience.
Eli said it is also a matter of being proud of who you are.
“Huttfest means everything to me. HuttFest is like about just getting up there, performing and representing people’s culture.”
Poseidon agreed, “that’s exactly what I was gonna say! Representing cultures, just getting there, have fun, put a smile on, and just show everyone what culture you are.”
And St Claudine Thevenet’s Sela-Rai Fialogo Laumalili said she danced in honour of all who came before her.
“You’re not only representing yourself, you’re representing your ancestry, your history, and your family.”
87 groups participated in HuttFest 2026.
RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
For St Claudine Thevenet’s Fofogalealataua Gauta Fa’amao, it was a privilege to include non-Pasifika classmates in their performance.
“Not only you can only do your culture, but you can only do always do other cultures as well, because you know our Pasifika cultures are always welcome to express everyone else.”
Irae Uili of St Orans College learned more about her classmates ethnic backgrounds through HuttFest.
“I think it brings something we can learn from all cultures, opportunity to learn and experience what they showcase to the world, so I think it’s really cool we get the opportunity to get to experience all different cultures.”
And for her friend Blessing Tafili, the festival was an opportunity to celebrate what makes them unique.
“We get to showcase all cultures on one stage, and I definitely love that. It’s what makes us different, and yeah, I love embracing cultures that aren’t mine, especially our Pacific Pacific Island culture.”
Vaito Eleni pointed out that this reflects the diversity and inclusivity of Wellington schools.
“It’s got a lot to do with [how] we’ve got different cultures itself in terms of ethnicities on one stage. A lot of it has to do with them being able to not only perform their own cultures as such, but also share it, and I think that having a stage like this gives them that identity to join as one on one stage.”
Students performing at HuttFest 2026.
RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
For students of St Orans College, HuttFest gives them an opportunity to “rejuvenate their culture.”
MJ Forbes said the festival keeps indigenous cultures alive.
“It gives schools a chance to show that culture is very much still here. And yeah, it does kind of slip away and stuff, but yeah, I think HuttFest does keep it alive.”
Her peer Ellie Moemai agreed, saying it fosters connection to their native languages and practises.
“I think HuttFest is a great opportunity for the girls to really embrace it, and you might not be able to speak your language fluently, but you can dance it and sing it.”
Ellie Moemai, MJ Forbes and Irae Uili from St Orans College.
RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
The five-day festival concluded abruptly on 26 June, when severe weather conditions in Wellington led to a power outage at Walter Nash Stadium and a mass evacuation.
In an official statement on Facebook, the HuttFest Board apologised to the schools, students and families who were unable to perform.
“Please accept our sincere apologies. We deeply appreciate the extensive preparation and commitment involved in your performances.”
An extra show night has been scheduled for 2 July for the remaining school performances.
Primary students performing at HuttfFest.
RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
