Ngai Tahu Treaty Festival, Onuku Marae, Wednesday 6 February

This year Onuku Runanga is hosting the annual ‘Ngai Tahu Treaty Festival’ at Onuku Marae, Akaroa.

Discussion on the current review of the New Zealand Constitution, environmental recovery of the Christchurch CBD and fresh water issues will be highlights of this year’s Ngai Tahu Waitangi Day commemoration festivities. A special New Zealand Citizenship Ceremony will take place on the day, presided over by Mayor Bob Parker. Ministers and Members of Parliament will be among those welcomed to the commemorative gathering.

Ta Tipene O’Regan, co-chair of the Constitutional Advisory Panel, the group undertaking the first stage of the New Zealand Constitution review process, will discuss the review and the place of the Treaty in a post-Treaty settlement Aotearoa. Ta Mark Solomon will lead a discussion on fresh water from a Ngai Tahu perspective and representatives from Te Awheawhe Ru Whenua (the Ngai Tahu earthquake working group) will talk about the importance of restoring Ngai Tahu cultural and mahinga kai values during the environmental rebuild of the Christchurch CBD.

Onuku kaumatua, Waitai Tikao, says it is a huge pleasure for the runanga to again host the official Ngai Tahu Waitangi Day commemorations. “It’s an honour to be able to welcome dignitaries, guests and whanau to our beautiful marae to celebrate as family, a community and a country, the things that make Aotearoa special.”

The public are warmly invited to attend. Festivities will start at 9.45am with a traditional powhiri for manuhiri (guests) followed by refreshments before beginning the programme of keynote presentations. Well-known Christchurch cooking personality, Richard Till and Ngai Tahu chef Shane Tainui will be preparing a picnic luncheon for guests. A traditional hangi will be available for the public to purchase.

There will be a range of market stalls open on site from 10.30am and at 2pm there will be a sing-a-long session on the lawn in front of the marae. People are encouraged to bring along their own musical instruments and join the fun.

Each year the Ngai Tahu Festival alternates between the three locations where Ngai Tahu signed the Treaty: Te Rau Aroha Marae, at Awarua (Bluff); Otakou Marae, near Dunedin and Onuku Marae on Banks Peninsula.

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