Waitangi audience get more diverse with each year
Muau¯ poko organised family-friendly day for locals to enjoy
Locals come out in droves for Waitangi Day celebrations in Muau¯poko Park on the shores of Lake Punahau/ Horowhenua on Waitangi each year. This year the weather was again great.
Organised by local iwi Muau¯ poko, the celebrations offers an opportunity for several local groups to offer food as a fundraisers and local organisations and clubs, like roller derby crew Whenua Fatales, had a stall this year to try and grow their team. Raukawa Wha¯ nau Ora did their blood pressure and diabetes checks for anyone interested, free of charge.
School principals and staff of local organisations manned the free sausage sizzle all day. Kapa haka groups and local musicians rolled in to whip up the crowds. Families brought picnics along and settled in for the long haul.
Te Tai Haua¯uru MP Adrian Rurawhe was in Levin in the morning.
“Thanks to Terisa Ngobi, who was at Waitangi, and who raved about our celebrations,” said Keri Hori Te Pa. She and sister Nina have been part of the organising committee for many years.
“Initially we held it at Adventure Park. We both worked for MTA at the time and worked hard to have it at the lake, where it has been since 2013,” she said.
“We wanted to celebrate Waitangi Day in a safe wha¯nau-friendly environment with free kai and entertainment. Definitely no need to bring money, unless you really want to.”
The day is a great opportunity for individuals and groups to fundraise
for a good cause.
“There were a lot more people this year who had never met before and quite a few from different ethnicities and cultures. Quite a few had no idea we had a lake and the fact that it was all free seemed to amaze many. Even going around with free fruit and sausages blew them away. That is so unusual these days,” said Nina.
“It was a relaxed day with people coming and going all day. The crowd is getting more diverse each year. Many seemed to happy to sit down and talk.”
“The children enjoyed the DoC display about fish in the lake and about eels. It was great that they had a lot more staff to interact with the kids.”
Surplus supplies went to an inpromptu celebration in Shannon, where at short notice local musos put together a celebration from 5-8pm in the park by the railway station.
The organising committee makes it a point to make the day familyfriendly and gives opportunities to local talent, from weavers, to painters and musicians, to be part of the programme. The Muau¯poko Tribal Authority, Te Puni Ko¯kiri and Horowhenua District Council were major sponsors of the day.