Supporting Cultural Events
- TuTagata Secondary Poly Festival Wellington
Background
The TuTagata Secondary Poly Festival Wellington has been an important cultural event for generations. Established in 1979 as part of the Tu Tangata (“Standing Tall”) programme, the festival was created to encourage young people to celebrate their Māori and Pasifika heritage while developing leadership skills, confidence, and pride in their culture.
Originally run entirely by students, the event grew over the decades into a large-scale festival bringing together schools, families, and communities. As the festival expanded, the Trust responsible for the event recognised the need to strengthen governance and introduce a more formal procurement process to ensure the festival could continue to thrive into the future.
“This event is incredibly important for our students and our community. The students learn so much and gain skills they can carry forward into their future.”
- Halina McDonald, Trust Secretary
The Challenge
When the previous event management contractor stepped away, the Trust needed to appoint a new event organiser capable of delivering a high-quality festival while respecting the traditions and cultural values that sit at its core.
As a charitable organisation, they wanted to ensure the procurement process was fair, transparent, and professionally managed, while also identifying a partner who genuinely understood the purpose and importance of the festival.
Our Approach
Kiwi Bid Support partnered with the Trust to design and manage the procurement process from start to finish.
This included developing a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP), clearly defining the responsibilities of the event organiser, supporting supplier engagement, managing questions during the tender period, and conducting a structured evaluation process.
“Piers and Sushil did a really good job listening to what was important to us. It was a good journey defining what the tender needed to be.” - Halina McDonald
Three suitable contractors were invited to participate in the process, ensuring the Trust had strong options while maintaining a manageable and targeted procurement approach.
The Outcome
Following the evaluation, one organisation stood out as the strongest cultural and operational fit.
The selected contractor is a Pacific-owned and operated business, bringing strong cultural alignment and community connection. Their vision also includes providing internship opportunities for Pasifika secondary school students in areas such as event production, lighting, photography, videography, and stage management.
“It was really important for us to find a contractor we could rely on, who understood our purpose and shared our commitment to the Pasifika community.”
- Halina McDonald
The Impact
With a new procurement framework and trusted event partner now in place, the Trust has greater confidence in the long-term sustainability of the festival.
“This procurement process was the modernisation we needed for our festival. Kiwi Bid Support helped us make it modern while keeping with tradition.”
- Halina McDonald
Held at TSB Arena, the festival continues to provide a powerful platform for young people to develop leadership, confidence, and cultural pride. Through a transparent procurement process and the selection of the right partner, the Trust has helped ensure the festival will continue to benefit the Pasifika community for many years to come.
Photography by: Tackld Photography - website
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