Music, food and aroha
After only seeing them on YouTube, Damian Irwin was excited to see The Slacks performing live at New Plymouth’s Puke Ariki Landing on Waitangi Day.
Hundreds turned up to dance in the sunshine as the band took part in a celebration concert put on by New Plymouth District Council to mark the national day yesterday.
The event also featured other local bands, a kapa haka performance and an Indian cultural group performance.
Irwin said it was a great day to be able to share with the kids, especially because it was free.
‘‘We didn’t come down here to spend money, no money actually, and it’s just awesome getting to see the local talent.’
The concert was one of a number of events in the region.
In Waitara, a Waitangi Day market was staged for the first time, although the idea has been in the works for a couple of years.
‘‘By the community for the community’’ was the theme, and there was music, food, crafts, and a kids’ zone with plenty to keep the little ones entertained.
‘‘We know what it’s like if you’re a family with three kids to buy them food and then activities,’’ the market manager, Matapaepae Urwin, said.
‘‘All of it is volunteer work. No-one gets one cent. They all came with aroha (love). The stallholders paid a fee but that all went back in to the markets.’’
Urwin along with a group of other Waitara residents took over the Waitara Night Markets last year and the Waitangi Day market is the last of the summer.
‘‘This is the last so we thought ‘let’s end with a bang’.’’
In South Taranaki, music, food and fun, not politics, dominated Waitangi Day celebrations at Pa¯tea’s annual Paepae in the Park festival.
Mareta Marsters-Grubner, from the organising committee, said it had been ‘‘fantastic’’.
The festival is the biggest event held each year in Pa¯tea, and the park was chocka with most of the town’s residents along with many from elsewhere.
Music came from the Ha¯ wera Brass Band and local acts, but the crowd favourite was always the Pa¯ tea Maori Club, she said.
‘‘Despite any other headline act, the Pa¯ tea Maori Club, I’d say, will still be the main attraction.’’
South Taranaki District mayor Phil Nixon said he liked that it was about community.
‘‘They have the official part with some good comments made early in the day, then they get on with the music. It’s a really positive day. It’s really etched into our district calendar.’’
A committee of 12 organises the event, aided by volunteers.
Behind the scenes, Minnie Broughton, 83, and her daughters Antoinette Adam and Karen Broughton were busy in the Old Folks Hall kitchen feeding all the performers and dignitaries.
Minnie had been in charge of the kitchen crew since the event started 17 years ago, she said.
‘‘I wanted to retire, but the mayor said I’m not allowed to,’’ she laughed.
Other Waitangi Day events in South Taranaki included an open day at Te Kura o Nga¯ ruahinerangi in Mangatoki, near Eltham, with entertainment and a range of market and kai stalls.
And in King Edward Park in Ha¯wera, a fundraiser to help a young boy called Miller who has Spastic Diplegia – Cerebral Palsy raised just over $12,000.