Waitangi Day celebrated in style
Hinekawa Manihera sits in the shade weaving bags with her granddaughter on the marae grounds in Nelson.
She’s been there every year since the International Kai Festival on Waitangi Day was first held a decade ago at Whakatu Marae.
The kete bags she’s weaving are made from the kiekie plant, which she picks, dries, boils and dyes herself.
Her granddaughter Shanell Kelly said she had been weaving since she was seven-years-old and learned everything from Maihera.
Spending time with her ‘‘nana’’ was what she enjoyed the most about weaving together.
She said they came to the celebrations with a stall every year because of the community feeling the event had.
‘‘There’s all the different cultures, we eat all the different food, it represents what Waitangi Day is all about.
‘‘We have whanau at other stalls and know a lot of people that come past the stall.’’
The event, which spread over marae grounds as well as Founders Park, attracted thousands of people from all ethnicities.
The day was started with a powhiri, with hundreds outside the marae patiently waiting to be welcomed in.
Samoan food stall holder Poia Banse said they were at the event every year because of the great atmosphere.
‘‘To show people our traditional food, and to make new friends.’’
There were lots of different food stalls, includingTongan, Samoan and Filipino food as well as a hangi.
Hayley Veatupu, who was with her family, said she came every year because of the good vibe, the food and the performances.
Organiser Carol Hippolite said the day was going ‘‘fantastic’’.
‘‘We started really early and had the public coming in at about 8:30am, when we actually opened at 10:30am. We tried to spread the stalls out further so that everyone has more space.’’
Hippolite said the event felt bigger than last year and she reckoned more than 6000 people came along over the course of the day.