Waitangi Day is all about ‘kotahitanga’
If there was one thing Te Ao Marama Maaka hoped people would take away from Waitangi Day this year it was the importance of relationships.
The Te Manawhenua Forum chairwoman was glowing after a positive welcome at the Matamata-Piako Waitangi Day event, held for the first time in Matamata.
It was hosted by Nga¯ti Hinerangi, Nga¯ti-Haua¯ and Matamata-Piako District Council.
Te Manawhenua Forum brought the Waitangi Day event to the Matamata-Piako area four years ago in Morrinsville.
This year it was held at the Matamata Domain with the community invited to share in the festivities provided.
Sport Waikato provided family activities, a hangi was shared and there was free entry to Matamata’s Swim Zone.
Special guests on the day included National MP for Waikato Tim van de Molen and wife Hilary, Matamata-Piako Mayor Jan Barnes and a delegation from Kitakami, Japan.
Maaka said even though it was the fourth event in the district, she was pleased to bring it to Matamata - where awareness of the day could be shared with the local community.
She said this was the first time local businesses had come on board in sponsorship of the hangi and said it was connections like that which was just one part of what Waitangi Day is about.
‘‘The relationship between to hokianga (people), Manawhenua, our people here, and our community working together.
‘‘Not just working with council, but our businesses - who have come in and sponsored our food - it’s just that, having the relationship with each other. I’d like to build on that.’’
What made the day extra special for Maaka was the inclusion of the Te Reo O Te Mangai Ratana Band, who played in Matamata for the first time.
This was also a special occasion for band master Nick Evans. Ratana Band was formed in 1935.
Te Reo O Te Mangai was formed in 2011 and was part of the powhiri at the beginning of the Matamata-Piako Waitangi Day event.
Guests were welcomed to the event to the sound of the Ratana march - a song well known to the band master, who joined Matamata Brass Band in 1978.
He said being part of Waitangi Day was important to him.
‘‘It’s about kotahitanga, all about bringing all the people of New Zealand together under one umbrella so we all share together in the celebration of the treaty of Waitangi,’’ he said.