Mama Tupou Manapori is one of the founders of Polyfest, now in its 50th year. Since its humble beginnings the four day festival is now the largest of its kind in Australasia, with more than 75,000 visitors flocking to cultural stages featuring performances from the Cook Islands, Māori, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.
Tupou was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999 and received the Queen's Service Medal in 2009. Now 80 years old, Tupou Manapori has been to every Polyfest since it began and this year she'll be running the Cook Islands stage.
Mihingarangi Forbes (left) and Tupou Manapori (right) Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
