Iwi out to celebrate this weekend (+video)

Hundreds of people are expected to get together this weekend to celebrate being Ngati Whakaue.

The Ngati Whakaue Whakanuia Whanau Day is being held on Saturday at the Waikite Rugby Club and will see hapu members come together to "celebrate whanau, culture and community".

Whakaue Whakanuia started last year and is now an annual event.

Last year it involved a Future Makers day for young people to hear from successful Ngati Whakaue members, a Recognition Dinner to celebrate those who had achieved in their fields and a kapa haka day where nine marae performed.

Kaumatua Monty Morrison said it was decided the kapa haka event would be held every second year, alternating with a different activity. This year Waikite Rugby Club, which is a Ngati Whakaue-based rugby club, was invited to host a family day.

The event is organised and funded by Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust with additional funding from Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust, Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust Board, Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands Corporation and Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue.

Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust chairwoman Ana Morrison said there would be a $5 hangi on offer for those who had pre-bought tickets through the Whakanuia Facebook page. The alcohol-free fun day includes music, food, dancing, a sausage sizzle, bouncy castle and sports and activities.

Tak Mutu, a Ngati Whakaue entrepreneur and owner of Multi-Day Adventures, will also take registered participants on a guided mountain bike tour. There will be four free tours throughout the day of 15 people each and registrations are made by going to www.whakaue.org.

Miss Morrison said the idea seemed fitting to increase the number of Maori mountain bikers locally and also to explore the Whakarewarewa forest, which was part of the land involved in the Treelords Settlement in 2009 that resulted in the Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust being established.

- The fun day is at the clubrooms on Bellevue Rd, Koutu from 11am to 3pm.