Waitangi Day and Festival Highlights 2010

Feb 6th 2010 - unrivalled for family fun and stirring spectacle

The 70th birthday this year of two major Treaty Grounds treasures focused the attention of families, waka crew, performers and politicians nationwide on the birthplace of our nation.

 

The magnificently carved Whare Runanga (PDF 52KB) - a showpiece and a home for the carvings of Maori tribes throughout Aotearoa, and Ngatokimatawhaorua (PDF 33 KB) - the world's largest waka or ceremonial canoe, were both completed for the 100th anniversary of the signing of The Treaty at Waitangi. In 2010, the Year of the Waka, they were celebrated and commemorated at Waitangi.

We received an impressive number of visitors! With five million dollars spent in the last year alone on new facilities, we were able to welcome and offer comfort to visitors (manuhiri) on The Day, and during the festival that proceeded it.

 

There were some fantastic headline acts, and our community generously committed its clubs, groups, performers and artists to join us.

In recent years, a family festival of sport and culture during the days prior has set the tone for ever more celebratory events. This year it included Ki-o-rahi, a championship Maori game, now promoted internationally, that may be even older than rugby! Ceremony, music, sports and fun were part of the family-themed festival.

 

Waitangi Day itself has always involved performance and parade from the Royal New Zealand Navy and local cultural groups. The Navy continued to build its presence with performances by the Navy Band, Beat Retreat and Royal Guard of Honour at ceremonial sunset at the flagpole.

Two naval vessels attended this year's celebrations, while a record waka fleet involving thousands of energetic and fit kaihoe (crew) generated pride and excitement on the waters of Pewhairangi, the Bay of Islands at the cliffs, and sandy coasts of the Treaty Grounds.