A sunny Waitangi Day to remember
Fine clear skies welcomed Taranaki’s Waitangi Day holiday with hundreds attending public events to celebrate the occasion.
A family-friendly event was held at New Plymouth’s Puke Ariki Landing and Patea celebrated it’s 15th Paepae in the Park.
In New Plymouth food stalls, live music and activities for the children were all drawcards but for Hoani Eriwata he wanted to ensure the meaning behind Waitangi Day was not lost in the festival atmosphere.
Eriwata, along with a group of helpers, manned an information booth which quizzed people about their knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi. A list of the North Taranaki iwi leaders who signed the country’s founding document was also on show.
He said the treaty forged a partnership between Maori and the British, which has continued to develop in the 178 years since the document was signed in 1840.
Eriwata said there appeared to be more awareness from the public about the Treaty of Waitangi and what it meant to New Zealand.
‘‘I don’t want people to take it for granted and just see it as a holiday,’’ he said.
It may well be a holiday but for Patea’s Minnie Broughton that didn’t mean she could take a break.
For the last 15 years Broughton, 81, has performed at and helped organise Patea’s Paepae in the Park. She has no plans to give it up any time soon.
‘‘It’s beautiful, I’ve never thought of retiring,’’ Broughton said. ‘‘Why should we. As long as you’re fit and healthy why should we stop.’’
Hundreds of people attended the annual event in the middle of Patea that featured music, kapa haka, craft stalls and food, plenty of food.
The Kui family of Hawera had come to the event for the first time and got a little something for their troubles.
Jolee Kui, 4, won herself a set of poi after explaining to the crowd what Waitangi Day meant to her.
‘‘It means spending time with your family,’’ she said
Parents Rohan and Michelle said they were looking forward to the Patea Maori Club performance later on in the day and had tried some of the food on offer too, their favourite being the mussel fritters.
‘‘I think it’s awesome, we’ve heard about it and we always meant to come,’’ Rohan said.
‘‘We’re going to try and make this a family day tradition and visit the museum as well,’’ Michelle said.
Robert and Verna Bourke from Whenuakura particularly enjoyed the performance from singer Monique Matthews.
They even got up and showed their ballroom dancing skills to the crowd during one of the songs.
‘‘We learnt ballroom dancing 40 years ago and have been going to classes in Ha¯ wera to brush up our skills,’’ Robert said.
South Taranaki mayor Ross Dunlop was on hand to help cut a birthday cake for the event, one he’s attended many times.
‘‘It’s absolutely fabulous and fantastic and it brings the community together and showcases Pa¯tea, the talent and the community,’’ he said.
‘‘I love the feeling here, it’s just really great.’’