Waitangi Day is just around the corner. This Saturday February 6th will mark 181 years since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in the upper North Island by representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs. 

For some Waitangi Day is a holiday, but for many Pākehā and Māori it is a day celebrate what is considered to be New Zealand’s founding document, that was the beginning of two cultures coming together in partnership.

It hasn’t been an easy road and our history is not perfect, but for many the day is a reminder to continue important kōrero among communities and leaders and for all to celebrate Māori culture within New Zealand. 

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App 

To commemorate the day, this year’s Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival is being hosted by Awarua Rūnaka at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff.

Awarua Rūnanga chair Dean Whaanga said Waitangi Day was for all in Aotearoa to celebrate and he encouraged people to come along to the Treaty Festival.

“Some people think Waitangi Day is a day for Māori, but it isn’t, it’s a day for all New Zealanders…to celebrate our nationhood.”

“That partnership was obviously signed in good faith… things have happened since then that get us back off track but there’s still a commitment from all New Zealanders to say that Waitangi Day is still a national day for us.”

He said it was about celebrating that partnership and recognising “each other’s individuality and the roles that they can play in making our country great”.

According to Te Rūnanga O Ngai Tahu this year’s theme, ‘wai’, acknowledges the “importance of freshwater to our iwi and te ao tūroa”.

The day will begin with a pōwhiri at 10am followed by kōrero from speakers covering a range of topics related to the festival kaupapa. 

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

Te Rūnanga O Awarua manager Gail Thompson said preparations to host between 300 to 500 people were being made.  

According to the programme, there will be a virtual reality marae experience, an ANZAC exhibition, and ‘Ata Whenua’ – which is an “unforgettable journey through Fiordland”, narrated by Tā Tipene O’Regan.

The events are expected to finish around 4pm. 

A full programme of the day can be found here.

Waitangi weekend events in Te Anau

In Te Anau, Te Anau events co-ordinator Claire Russell said an array of activities would be happening in town to celebrate Waitangi Day.

There will be a “Waitangi celebration” in Lions Park from 11am until 3pm with a performance from Southland entertainers the Mitchell sisters and the Valley Bluegrass band. 

There will also be a Waitangi Day re-enactment performance by Mararoa School Students called ‘Keys to our History’.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

“On top of that we have a tent dedicated to the treaty of Waitangi,” said Miss Russell, which will be filled with information about the treaty and its history.

Director of Maori Curriculum and culture at Otago Polytechnic Ron Bull will also be on site at the tent, sharing his extensive knowledge of Maori culture with anyone who wishes to learn more. 

For those who like to get a bit creative, there will be flax weaving and poi making craft stalls, a water slide and bouncy castle for the kids and for lunch, a traditional Hāngi with will be prepared, available to everyone for just a koha donation. 

Architect and waka designer Quentin Roake will be bringing one of his waka, which will be down at the lake and available for everyone who wishes to come and look at.

During the evening of Waitangi Day, there will in informative evening with inspirational guest speakers. 

Organiser and local Whanau Ora Navigator Dale Wairau said the evening will be “Informative, humorous and challenging,” as the speakers discuss topics from a Te Ao Māori perspective. 

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

The guest speakers are Quentin Roake, local businessman and professional rugby player Callum Bruce, cultural mentor Mihaere Emery and Ron Bull.

As this year’s Waitangi Day falls on a weekend day, Monday February 8 will also be a public holiday, being Waitangi Day observed.

Officially commemorated in 1934, Waitangi Day has been a public holiday since 1974.