Uniting to celebrate Treaty

Catch up with Ian McKelvie after the Rangitikei election results. Stock

WAITANGI Day 2015 marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Tiriti o Waitangi), so this year Waitangi Day will be even more poignant because of this important milestone.

On February 6, 1840, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Mori chiefs signed what is often considered to be New Zealand's founding document. Waitangi Day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

The day is usually celebrated at Waitangi with re-enactments of some of the significant moments surrounding the signing of the Treaty.

Elsewhere, parades, community events, church services and other celebrations mark the day.

This year there will be a series of nationwide occasions to mark the 175th anniversary. These range from a concert at Manukau in Auckland, which has attracted more than 30,000 people in the past, to a small gathering on the Chatham Islands.

There are a number of events and celebrations planned in our part of the country, too. I'll be attending the powhiri at the Taumata O Te Ra Marae in Halcombe in the morning, which is being organised by the Halcombe Community Development Group.

From there Sue and I will be going to the Rongotea Lions' annual gala day, which is a popular community day. It features a number of stalls and a renowned auction and is a great day out.

We in Rangitikei are particularly good at organising get-togethers that bring the community together, whether it is to mark significant occasions, celebrate who we are and what we do, or fundraise for a worthy cause.

From Rongotea we'll be travelling south to Wellington to attend the Bledisloe garden reception at Government House. This occasion is being hosted by New Zealand Governor-General and the Queen's representative, Sir Jerry Mateparae.

For some people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for others it is also an occasion to reflect on the Treaty.

Whichever way you look at it, February 6 is a date that is an important marker in our country's history and always will be.

And it's important all New Zealanders take the time to reflect on what the Treaty means for our nation in the 21st century.

One last thing: The new Parliament gets under way next week, and I'm looking forward to it after the summer break. I will report on the goings-on in Wellington next time.