Waitangi Day was commemorated in glorious sunshine across New Zealand on Saturday at various, events, festivals and concerts marking the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Waitangi treaty.
Waitangi Day Commemorations were held on the treaty grounds at Paihia and there was also a free concert with Ray Woolf and the Rodger Fox Big Band on Friday evening.
Hamilton
Hamilton celebrated Waitangi Day at the Garden Place with a focus on youth. Australian Idol contest winner Stan Walker performed along with other musicians. The event was part of Hamilton's annual Waitangi Day event organised by Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa.
New Plymouth
The free Waitangi Whanau Day, Puke Ariki in New Plymouth had headline acts like The Sami Sisters and Kidz in Space. The Waitangi Whanau Day activities included flax weaving, a tamariki time zone, a funk dance workshop with Future, a Treaty info tent and a Kapa haka performances.
Masterton
Waitangi day was marked in Masterton at the Waitangi Day Origins Festival at Queen Elizabeth Park. The festival celebrated the diversity of the local community.
Palmerston North
Palmerston North commemorated the day by providing an all day live family concert. Waitangi Day Festival in the City at The Square had activities for all the family as well as an opportunity for the community to visit a Maori Village.
Manukau City
Waitangi Day Family Celebrations were held at Botany Downs in Manukau City. Presented by Toi o Manukau, the 2010 Waitangi Day Family Celebrations had a theme of celebrating family diversity. The celebration was Auckland region's largest Waitangi Day event, and the second largest commemorative event in New Zealand, with 40,000 people attending. The event aims to raise awareness and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi through the sharing of arts, crafts, music and food.
Kaiapoi
The Waitangi Day Festival at Kaiapoi Wharf was held with the theme of "coming together as an inclusive community to observe Waitangi Day as New Zealand's national day". The river was the focal point for the day.
Wellington
Waitangi Day Celebrations in Wellington were held at Waitangi Park, where the partnership between Tangata Whenua and the Crown was celebrated. Attendess enjoyed traditional kapa haka, contemporary music, Maori and Kiwi-influenced kai (food) and craft stalls.
Porirua
Porirua city residents enjoyed the Festival of the Elements at the Te Rauparaha Park and Arena on Saturday. The festival used the arts to celebrate the cultural diversity of Porirua, made possible by the Treaty of Waitangi. The elements of earth and air, fire and water embrace concepts of significance to all cultures, concepts around which we can all unite. Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti rejoiced together on Waitangi Day by way of the arts.
Source: TVNZ
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