Thousands flock for Waitangi fun

Te Tawharangi, a kapa haka group from Heretaunga, show what they're made of at the day-long event. Photo / Paul Taylor

Chilly temperatures didn't deter thousands of people from attending various Waitangi Day celebrations across the region yesterday.

The two biggest events, the 15th Waitangi Family Festival in Clive, and the Big 9 Waitangi Day Celebration in Hastings, saw people of all ages come out to enjoy our national day.

The Waitangi Family Festival included a re-enactment of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Groups representing local iwi and early settlers took to the water in waka and rowboats before coming ashore for a welcome, speeches and to sign a replica of the Treaty.

VIPs including Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule and Tukituki MP Craig Foss were part of a group who took to the water on the waka, along with a contingent of Te Aute College students.

A member of the organising committee, Lily Baker, said the parties were signing a "treaty of friendship".

"It should be a day New Zealanders continue to recognise. We should be celebrating this beautiful country we live in, it has a lovely atmosphere and may it always be so."

She said the event normally attracted a couple of thousand people throughout the day.

"We've got our regulars who have been coming out since year dot. There are probably a couple of thousand who come and go throughout the day."

Thousands of people turned out to the Big 9 Waitangi Day Celebration in Hastings and enjoyed food, music, sport and kapa haka. Photo / Paul Taylor

In Hastings, the Big 9 Waitangi Day Celebration took place for the fourth year.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi promotions manager Te Rangi Huata, who orchestrated the event, said he was "very pleased" with the turnout.

"I think it's important on our national day to really celebrate it. I hope each person here recognises that it's our national day by doing something that aligns with it. The idea was just to have a place people can come together to celebrate."

The smokefree event featured a variety of sports, the regional kapa haka competition and Kai in the Bay. Mr Huata said he was originally sceptical about not having fizzy drinks, chips and hotdogs at the event but it had worked out well, with people hopefully trying out healthier alternatives.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, along with councillor Henare O'Keefe and Tukituki MP Craig Foss, were VIPs at the early morning event. Photo / Warren Buckland

"The key thing for Waitangi Day is to celebrate the signing of the treaty between our iwi and the Crown," he said. "We all live here together, playing sport together and gathering together is a great positive sign for the health of our community on our national day."