Iwi Plans Major Waitangi Day to Celebrate 175 Years

Friday, 30 January 2015, 4:23 pm
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc

Iwi Plans Major Waitangi Day to Celebrate 175 Years

Celebrate the 175th anniversary of Waitangi Day with Ngāti Kahungunu at the Hawke’s Bay Sports Park.

This free family friendly, smoke and alcohol free, zero waste party is for all ages with food and market stalls, kids’ rides, sports and a multicultural concert.

“We invite the whole community to come along and join us” said iwi chairman Ngāhiwi Tomoana. “The day is about family, community and nationhood”.

To celebrate 175 years of partnership, six community and industry leaders will take one minute each to share one big idea they will take into their work place to mark the occasion.

The celebration at the 23 hectare park kicks off at 8am with 7 sports tournaments covering hockey, touch, rugby league community carnival for kids, Ki Orahi, volleyball, netball and 3 on 3 basketball.

From 9am twenty food stalls at Bite of the Bay are cooking up tasty street snacks and delicacies from around the world. There’s hangi, kebabs, paella, whitebait fritters, steamed mussells, fried bread, churro, sushi, ice cream and watermelon, shaved ice and more.

Rising star and feature artist Sammy Johnson takes the main stage at 2.45pm with a repertoire of songs from his latest EP that combines an uplifting fusion of reggae, hip hop and RnB. Other performers include Mahinarangi Lawrence, Whiplash Dancers, Matiu Dallas, Rhythm Forte and Cook Island Fanau.

Two local kapa haka teams, Parearau and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga will perform as well. They will be representing the region in March at the Te Matatini national competitions in Christchurch.

Last year’s event attracted 15,000 people and the organisers are expecting similar numbers this year.

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi has provided most of the funding for the event with support from Hastings District Council, Te Puni Kokiri, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Kahungunu Waitangi Day The Big 9
8am to 4pm Friday 6th February 2015
Hawke’s Bay Sports Park, Percival Road, Hastings

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