Wh¯anau focus for Waitangi Day events
South Canterbury celebrated Waitangi Day with a focus centred on family and community and bringing people together.
Te Ana Maori Rock Art Centre and Te Aitarakihi Multi Cultural Centre opened their doors to the public yesterday.
Both centres offered a variety of entertainment in an effort to educate people and bring them together to celebrate.
Rock art guide Wes Home was on hand at Te Ana to converse with people coming through the centre.
‘‘It’s been quite steady, there’s been heaps of locals, nationals and internationals through the centre today,’’ Home said.
‘‘A lot of kids have been dragging their parents in and people are asking lots of questions.’’
Some common questions included how many rock art sites there are in South Canterbury, where do people go to see them, and their ages, Home said.
‘‘There are more than 200 rock art sites in a 70-kilometre radius,’’ he said.
‘‘A lot of people have been sharing their memories of them as well.’’
The Te Aitarakihi Multi Cultural Centre opened its doors to the public with a Waitangi Wha¯nau Day event. A variety of entertainment was on offer, including an open mic for anyone keen to sing or speak, rock hunting, face painting, lolly scramble and sausage sizzle.
Centre operations manager Deb Whatuira said the event was about bringing people together and celebrating Waitangi Day as a nation.