Planning Polyfest
An analysis of a significant contemporary event from a geographic
perspective
Student Information Sheet
The information in this handout will help you to understand the achievement
standard that you are about to attempt. Please look after it.
Name: Achievement Standard: 91428
Title:
Analyse a significant contemporary event from a geographic perspective
Credits: 3
This achievement standard focuses on the Auckland ASB Polynesian Festival.
Format: You may present your report in a number of different formats. For example,
as a video, podcast, power point, written report or a combination of these.
Due Date: Thursday the 30th of March. This is in week 9 of term 1. No reports will
be accepted after this date unless it has been approved by the Principal’s Nominee.
Field Trip: This year’s Polyfest is held during week 7 between the 12 th and the 15th
of March. It is anticipated that we will attend the festival on Friday the 14th of March.
The purpose of attending the festival is to gather evidence (photographs, video,
interviews) for your report as well as to experience the festival first hand. If you are
unable to attend on the Friday, you will be expected to attend on the Saturday. More
information will be given to you closer to the festival.
Authenticity: All work that is handed in for marking must be your own. You may not
allow any student to copy or use your work. You will be required to sign an
authenticity declaration.
Bibliography: You should use a variety of resources in your report and these must
be cited in a bibliography. Refer to the separate APA referencing hand out for
details.
Resources: You will be given a number of resources to help you to complete this
assessment. These should be looked after. Resources include…






A resource booklet.
APA Referencing handout.
A colour aerial photograph of the site.
A student exemplar demonstrating what is required for a low level excellence
grade.
A generic marking schedule.
Website: www.asbpolyfest.co.nz
Brief Introduction:
The ASB, Auckland Polyfest is the largest Polynesian Festival in the world. It is also
the largest school festival in the world. It began at Hillary College, Otara in 1976.
The festival’s purpose is to demonstrate pride in performer’s cultural identity and
heritage and bring schools and different cultures together. The festival occurs over a
period of 4 days and is held at the Manukau Super Bowl in South Auckland.
This assessment requires you to analyse the planning, decision making and
social, economic and/or environmental impacts of the festival.
You will be given class time to complete your report but you will also be expected to
work on it outside of class time.
You will be assessed on the comprehensiveness of your analysis.
There are 3 tasks that must be completed to a satisfactory standard…
Task 1 – Nature of the Event
Outlining the nature of the Polyfest requires you to include information about the
what, when, where and reasons as to why it is a significant (important) event. The
nature of the event can be developed further when evaluating the impact of the event
in task 3. An annotated (labelled) map with explanatory notes showing the spatial
dimensions (where features are) of the event could be used to support this aspect.
Specific information should include…




The history of the event – the purpose and importance of Polyfest. How has
Polyfest changed over time?
The spatial nature of the event. Patterns may be temporal and/or spatial.
Specific features and characteristics of Polyfest.
How does Polyfest highlight the interaction between people and the
environment?
Task 2 – Planning and Decision Making
The planning of Polyfest involves multiple parties as well as considerable time. This
needs to be explained in your report. To achieve at an excellence level, you will
need to evaluate the planning and decision making involved. The evaluation can
occur at the same time as the analysis of the components that make up the decision
making process. An evaluation will involve a judgement as to how effective the
planning and decision making was. Further guidance to help you with this task is
outlined below.
Further guidance
Your teacher will provide some information in the form of a Resource Book about
the planning, decision-making, and impacts related to the Auckland ASB
Secondary Schools Polyfest. You will have time in class to discuss this information
and to make notes. This may include:

why the location was chosen







identification of the authority empowered to make the final decision
a flow diagram outlining the entire planning and decision-making process
a description of supporting data and other relevant information that would be of
assistance to the organisers of the event
a discussion about any consents that were required before the event could
occur
identification of the procedures for notifying the public and/or identifying and
consulting with affected parties
how the event organisers dealt with any special conditions imposed by other
agents, for example, council or police
an explanation of how the final decision was arrived at. This might include, for
example, how people’s values, beliefs, and perspectives influenced decisionmaking processes or how various methodology was used, such as:
–
Social Cost Benefit Analysis
–
Environmental Impact Assessment
–
Goals Achievement Analysis
–
Sieve Analysis.
Task 3 – Impact of the Polyfest
This involves an analysis of the social, economic and/or environmental impacts of
the Polyfest. At least 2 social, economic or environmental impacts will need to be
explained and evaluated. Impacts may be positive/negative and/or long term/short
term. Refer to further guidance above.
Throughout your report, you will be expected to use relevant geographic
terminology and concepts.
Key concepts are also referred to as the big ideas in Geography
 Environments – location, distance, region
 Perspectives
 Processes
 Patterns – spatial variations between environments
 Interaction
 Change
 Sustainability
Māori concept

Kaitiakitanga – to care for the environment
The quality of your responses for each task increases through each grade…
Achievement Criteria
This information is from the NZQA website…
Achieved
Analyse a significant
contemporary event from
a geographic perspective

Achieved with Merit
Analyse, in depth, a
significant contemporary
event from a geographic
perspective
Achieved with Excellence
Analyse,
comprehensively, a
significant contemporary
event from a geographic
perspective
Analyse a significant contemporary event from a geographic
perspective involves:
• outlining the nature of the event
• explaining the planning and decision making involved in the event
• explaining the social, economic and/or environmental impacts of the event.
 Analyse, in depth, a significant contemporary event from a geographic
perspective involves:
• explaining in detail the planning and decision making involved in the event.
explaining in detail the social, economic and/or environmental impacts of the
event.
 Analyse comprehensively a significant contemporary event from a
geographic perspective involves:
• evaluating the planning and decision making involved in the event
• evaluating the social, economic and/or environmental impacts of the event
showing insight.
Definitions






Significant Event refers to an event of global, national, or regional
importance that is planned and may occur in 1 or more locations.
Contemporary Event refers to an event that has taken place within the last 5
years.
Geographic Perspective refers to a spatial dimension and the interaction
between people and the environment.
Analyse refers to the breaking down of data and information into separate
parts. Geographic analysis identifies patterns, trends, processes,
relationships and connections and turns these understandings into
explanations.
Evaluate refers to identifying and discussing strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats associated with the planning of the Polyfest.
Explain refers to providing reasons for.