Waitangi Day 2025: Hawke’s Bay to mark national day with sunshine, unity, and hīkoi

Hawke’s Bay residents can expect a bluebird day for a range of community events as the region and country mark the 185th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

MetService meteorologist Alec Holden said the region could expect dry, sunny weather, with morning clouds burning off by midday on Waitangi Day, Thursday.

Holden said Wairoa and Napier would reach a high of 23C, Central Hawke’s Bay a high of 24C while Hastings would be the warmest with a 25C day predicted.

“You will get lovely sunshine but it won’t get too hot.”

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi's Waitangi Day Family celebrations in 2024. Photo / Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi will host the 24th annual Waitangi Day Family Celebrations at Mitre 10 Park in Hastings and with free entry the event is expected to draw a crowd of over 10,000 people.

This year’s theme is to share the message of unity and create pride in all New Zealanders.

The event is the largest regional celebration and is the only regional event in New Zealand organised and largely funded by an iwi to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between Ngāti Kahungunu and the Crown.

The celebrations will feature a variety of activities that appeal to all ages, with key elements of learning, fun, and interaction between Ngāti Kahungunu, other iwi, and diverse communities in Hawke’s Bay.

The ceremony will open with a pōwhiri, anthem, and addresses by iwi, community, and civic leaders, including Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi chairman Bayden Barber, Napier mayor Kirsten Wise, Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chairwoman Hinewai Ormsby.

The event will include Treaty talks from several speakers who will share thoughts on topics around the Treaty, covering history, relevancy, and links to education, social, environmental, and economic impacts for all New Zealanders.

There will also be performances by dance troupes, bands, and singers representing Māori, Pacific, Asian, and world cultures, flag waving and flag waving appreciation, line dancing, Mahons Amusements rides and market stalls.

Waitangi Day hikoi from Atea a Rangi in Waitangi Regional Park to Te Awa o Mokotuararo in 2024. Photo / Paul Taylor

The Waipureku Waitangi Trust also invites members of the public to the Hīkoi of Unity, beginning at 7.45am at the Atea a Rangi celestial compass at Waitangi Regional Park.

The 3km hīkoi will be welcomed at Farndon Park about 8.45am by mana whenua with a haka pōwhiri, involving Hukarere Girls College and Te Aute College.

Keynote speaker Vincent O’Malley will speak on the importance of Te Tiriti. Local body leaders will provide an update on their progress in honouring Te Tiriti, followed by morning tea.

The second session will start with Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod to speak about the background of the signing of Te Tiriti in Hawke’s Bay.

Other events will also be excited by the forecast. Wednesday marks the start of the Hawke’s Bay Sports Fishing Club Mega Fish, running through to Saturday.

The weather on the coast is expected to be mainly fine with cooler temperatures in the low 20s on Friday before reaching mid-20s with cloud on Saturday.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.