Waitangi Day 2021 03 February 2021 On 6 February 1840, Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) was signed at Waitangi, making this day New Zealand’s national day. As a nation, New Zealanders are enriched when they know the past and this is the perfect day to do that. I wish you and all your whānau a day of reflection and celebration of the nation that we are all proud to call home. Nau mai, haere mai ki ngā kāinga whakahirahira o te whenua. He taongag tuku iho nā ngā mātua tūpuna. – Come hither welcome to the special places of the land. Treasures handed down by our forebears. Sir John Clarke KNZM CNZM, Tiamana, Te Kaunihera Māori/Chair, Māori Heritage Council Every 6 February, we in Aotearoa mark the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between the British Crown and 500 Māori chiefs. As always, Waitangi Day in 2021 will be honoured across the country with numerous public events. However, there will be changes from previous years; the ongoing caution needed to keep Covid-19 out of our communities means that more of us will be observing the occasion at home, or with whānau and close friends. Practising te reo using the awesome Tōku Reo resource library, cooking a crockpot hāngi with this popular Facebook recipe, or learning waiata by watching Māori Television’s Iwi Anthems are all ways that we can honour our whakapapa and place in the world. Below are some of the events happening this Waitangi Day – take a look and see how you can get involved. Please note: the events listed are still going ahead as at the time of publication. We recommend confirming that in-person events are still on before setting off (using the links supplied), due to increased Covid-19 control measures currently in place. Online Events Waitangi Day Online Market Where: Facebook Live, visit www.fobonlinemarket.com.au When: Sat 6 Feb 1:00pm – onwards Online stalls Local businesses Kai and hāngi orders Admission: FREE Waitangi Day 2021 Online Where: Kāpiti Coast Council’s Facebook page When: Sat 6 Feb 3:00pm – 4:00pm livestream Waitangi ki Kāpiti video series Online welcome and karakia Livestream of the Waitangi Day commemorations Admission: FREE Northland Waitangi Day Celebrations Where: Waitangi Treaty Grounds, 1 Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi When: Sat 6 Feb 5:00am – 6:45pm Dawn Service Markets Music Kai stalls Whānau fun Admission: FREE Auckland Ngā Hinepūkōrero – Spoken Word Poets Location: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Wellesley Street East, Auckland When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 5:00pm (Performance at 12:00pm) Spoken word poetry performed by Ngā Hinepūkōrero Toi Tū Toi Ora contemporary Māori art exhibition Admission: FREE Hamilton Waitangi Day Where: Waikato Museum, 1 Grantham Street, Hamilton, Waikato When: Mon 8 Feb 10:00am – 4:00pm Family Entertainment Performances Tours Storytelling Admission: FREE Tauranga Waitangi Day BBQ Where: Memorial Pool, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm Swimming BBQ Admission: Adult: $4.90 Child (5-15 years): $2.50 Toddler (2-4 years): $1.30 Under 2 Years – free: $0.00 Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Festival 2021 Where: The Historic Village, Seventeenth Ave West, Tauranga When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 4:00pm Maori arts and cultural performances Educational workshops Live music Food trucks Admission: FREE Hastings Waitangi Day Fair Where: Otane Town Hall, Higginson St, Otane, Central Hawke’s Bay When: Sat 6 Feb 9:00am – 2:00pm Market stalls Admission: FREE Gisborne Waipureku Waitangi Day Commemoration Where: Farndon Park Domain, Corner of Farndon Road and Highway 2, Clive, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay / Gisborne When: Sat 6 Feb 7:45am – 12:00pm Hikoi Powhiri Workshops Family Entertainment Admission: FREE Taranaki Waitangi Day 2021 Where: Ngamotu Beach, Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth, Taranaki When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm Family Activities Musical performances Kai stalls Admission: FREE Manawatu Rongotea & Districts Lions Waitangi Day Gala Where: Te Kawau Memorial Recreation Centre, Wye St, Rongotea, Feilding and District When: Sat 6 Feb 8:30am – 3:00pm Family Entertainment Gala Kai stalls Train rides Live music Quick fire raffles Admission: FREE Wellington Waitangi Day 2021 Where: Te Rauparaha Park, Norrie Street, Porirua, Porirua – Mana, Wellington Region When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 4:00pm Performances Waka tours Children’s entertainment Crafts Market stalls Poolside events Admission: FREE Te Rā o Waitangi Where: Waitangi Park, 107 Cable St, Wellington When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 7:30pm Live music Whānau fun Limited servings of hāngi Admission: FREE Waitangi Day at the National Library Where: Te Ahumairangi Ground Floor, cnr Molesworth & Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington When: Sat 6 Feb 9:30am – 4:30pm Guided tours Family-friendly activities Te reo workshop Admission: FREE Christchurch 2021 Waitangi Day Commemorations Where: Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum, 1146 Okains Bay Rd, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch District When: Sat 6 Feb 9:30am – 5:00pm Pōwhiri Craft workshops Taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments) Paddling of the Ngāi Tahu waka Admission: Adult $10 Children under 13 FREE (when accompanied by adult) Timaru Waitangi Day Where: Te Aitarakihi, Te Aitarakihi, Bridge Road, Timaru, South Canterbury When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 2:00pm Cultural activities Sausage sizzle Bring picnic lunch Admission: FREE Queenstown Waitangi Day Where: Earnslaw Park, 78 Beach Street, Queenstown When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm Waiata Performances and storytelling Delicious kai, bring your own reusable containers and cups Weaving workshops Bring picnic blanket and chair Admission: FREE Dunedin Waitangi Day Whānau Festival Where: The Octagon, The Octagon, Dunedin, Otago When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm Kai stalls Crafts Musical fun Admission: FREE Invercargill Ngāi Tahu Waitangi Treaty Festival 2021 Where: Te Rau Aroha Marae, 12 Bradshaw Street, Bluff When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 5:00pm Pōwhiri Kōrero on festival kaupapa VR marae experience ANZAC exhibition Ata Whenua, an journey through Fiordland Video highlights will be available on the website Admission: FREE To find out more about Waitangi Day and its history, please click here.