Kotahitanga event in Edgecumbe salutes flood-hit town's togetherness

Edgecumbe's Matthew Bryson will be Japanese Drumming at Kotahitanga. Photo/Supplied

Tomorrow people will come together to acknowledge events on April 6, 2017.

Organisers of the event named it Kotahitanga – Unity from Adversity. Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne says the name is appropriate.

"This is because a sense of togetherness and shared purpose has indeed come from what has unquestionably been a terribly hard year for so many in our district," Bonne said.

Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne will speak at tomorrow's event to be held at the park next to Riverslea Mall. Photo / File

Kotahitanga will be held at the park next to Riverslea Mall in Edgecumbe. It begins at 3pm and finishes at 9pm and includes dance, music, prize giveaways and a movie.

One of the co-ordinators, Vicky Richards, said the day will be a "real whanau affair".

"There'll be bouncy castles, face painting, a foam pit for the older kids and the day concludes with a movie on the big screen," Richards said.

Kotahitanga will have a dramatic opening with Japanese Drumming. Edgecumbe resident Matthew Bryson and his Japanese Drumming team have featured at fundraising and community events in the past year and draw a great response.

MCs Jade Elliott and Paul Hale, both from Edgecumbe, will welcome people before a karakia is held and doves are released.

Fling Teddy and X-Factor's Whenua Patuwai will entertain while Bonne and Rangitaiki Community Board chairwoman Charelle Stevenson will speak about the events of April 6 and how the town is progressing.

"I'm excited to be sharing the day with the Edgecumbe community," Stevenson said. "The event has been driven, planned and executed by the community.

"It's a day for flood-affected people to reflect on the year that has been but in a way they wanted to do it."

A slideshow will play before the movie begins at 6.45pm.