Where to dive into the long Waitangi weekend
From north to south, it is shaping up to be a busy Waitangi Weekend, politically and culturally.
In the Far North, a heavy police presence is expected to line the streets and waterways of Waitangi today, as politicians make their annual pilgrimage to Te Tii Marae.
On the eve of the country’s national day, political leaders and their MPs will be welcomed onto the controversial lower marae and hold talks with iwi about the election year ahead.
More than 50 police kept guard on land and water near Te Tii Marae yesterday – media were banned from filming or recording on the grounds and much of the public was stopped from seeing new Governor-General, Dame Patsy Reddy, welcomed to Waitangi for the first time.
With the absence of Prime Minister Bill English – he attended Friday’s Iwi Chairs Forum – many expected a more low-key affair but dozens of police have been brought in from outside the area.
But if the politics isn’t for you this weekend, there’s plenty of entertainment lined up for what forecasters have said will be a sunny few days.
The NRL Nines make Auckland a hot-spot for partying – even if Warriors fans had to watch their team crash out after day one – and thousands of fans will still go hard as the tournament winds up today.
Also in Auckland, US rockers Guns N’ Roses played Western Springs last night, welcoming an enthusiastic crowd of 50,000 back to the jungle – although at times lead singer Axl Rose appeared taxed by the effort of belting out the 1987 classics.
The band, who reunited in 2015, might have aged but the fans got the songs they grew up, a star turn from guitar showman Slash and a prolonged encore as the veteran rockers saved the best for last.
Meanwhile The Winery Tour celebrated its 10th anniversary with performances from Brooke Fraser, Bic Runga and Benny Tipene at Ascension Wine Estate at Matakana.
The One Love Festival continues today with a second day of reggae in Tauranga, featuring Katchafire. Fat Freddy’s Drop is at the Queenstown Events Centre this afternoon, while a Beatles Tribute Show is planned in the Coromandel town of Whangamata this evening.
There’s also plenty of choice for those looking to celebrate the historical side of Waitangi Day.
A festival runs through today and tomorrow at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum at Banks Peninsula in Canterbury is hosting a commemoration event tomorrow.
Archives New Zealand has announced a Waitangi Day Open Day in Wellington for anyone who wants to view the original treaty documents.
The Chinese New Year Parade comes to Christchurch’s Cashel Mall this afternoon, and various other Chinese New Year events are planned across the country.
Kids are welcome at tomorrow’s Family Water Day at Wellington’s Harcourt Park, and, for the more adventurous, there’s the NZ Bomb Comp, which runs through the long weekend at Wharewaka Point on Lake Taupo.
Back in the political world, there’s a fair chance that highprofile broadcaster Willie Jackson may well spend the back half of Waitangi weekend practising kissing babies and glad-handing members of the public as he’s expected to announce today that he will stand for the party at September’s general election.