Family event hails strong camaraderie
Tomorrow people will come together to acknowledge events on April 6, 2017.
Organisers of the event named it Kotahitanga — Unity from Adversity. Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne says the name is highly appropriate.
“This is because a sense of togetherness and shared purpose has indeed come from what has unquestionably been a terribly hard year for so many in our district,” Bonne said.
Kotahitanga will be held at the park next to Riverslea Mall in Edgecumbe from 3-9pm and will include dance, music, prize giveaways and a movie.
Co-ordinator Vicky Richards said the day would be a “real whanau affair”.
“There’ll be bouncy castles, face painting, a foam pit for the older kids and the day concludes with a movie on the big screen,” Richards said.
Kotahitanga will have a dramatic opening with Japanese drumming by Edgecumbe resident Matthew Bryson and his team. They have featured at events in the past year and drew a great response.
MCs Jade Elliott and Paul Hale, who are both from Edgecumbe, will welcome people before a karakia is held and doves are released.
Fling Teddy and X-Factor’s Whenua Patuwai will entertain while Bonne and Rangitaiki Community Board chairwoman Charelle Stevenson will speak about the events of April 6 and how the town is progressing.
“I’m excited to be sharing the day with the Edgecumbe community,” Stevenson said. “The event has been driven, planned and executed by the community.
“It’s a day for floodaffected people to reflect on the year that has been but in a way they wanted to do it.”
A slideshow will play before the movie begins at 6.45pm.