Hundreds attend celebrations
Hundreds of people flocked to Waitangi Day commemorations around Taranaki yesterday while others relaxed on a day off.
In New Plymouth celebrations, including live music, kapa haka and food stalls, were held at Puke Ariki Landing between 11am and 2pm, while in South Taranaki Pa¯tea’s Paepae in the Park returned for its 16th year.
The forecast showers didn’t eventuate and grey skies weren’t enough to put off large crowds attending both events.
Toiana Oka took her two girls, Awe and Hariata, to watch her partner Canaan Pauru perform kapa haka in New Plymouth and enjoy the afternoon’s entertainment. ‘‘I think it’s the first year I’ve been to Puke Ariki for Waitangi Day,’’ Oka said.
‘‘They loved it, just roaming around being free. Being family orientated it was pretty cool.’’
Onaleah Zandbergen, 8, was enjoying learning to do flax weaving in the Tamariki Zone.
Her mother Katrina said Onaleah and her two sisters were enjoying themselves.
‘‘We are having a really awesome day and they are learning lots as well, which is great.
‘‘It’s a really great environment. The entertainment has been fantastic and the food’s delicious.’’
New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom had taken his children.
‘‘I think it was brilliant, there was a really good turnout.’’
Holdom said there were a number of tourists there and he had been talking with an Irish couple.
‘‘They were interested in the history of Taranaki, the land wars and the Treaty of Waitangi.
‘‘They were talking about how every country has its history but it was quite a good thing to see it celebrated in a positive way.’’
The Paepae in the Park event featured craft and food stalls as well as music from the Pa¯tea Ma¯ori Club, Laconic Zephyr and Ha¯wera Brass Band.
While both events attracted good crowds many others took to the water to enjoy some fishing.
Taranaki Coastguard volunteer duty radio operator John Clark said by noon there were more than 100 boats in the area he monitored from Awakino to Cape Egmont.