Waitangi Day – Kahungunu Day

Tuesday, 5 February 2008, 10:26 am
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc

NGATI KAHUNGUNU IWI INCORPORATED

MEDIA RELEASE

5 February 2008

Waitangi Day – Kahungunu Day

A celebration of nationhood, community, family and Kahungunu

It’s anticipated that more than twenty thousand people will attend the Waitangi Day event tomorrow to celebrate and commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the Crown and Ngati Kahungunu. To celebrate this historical event a reenactment of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi will take place – called the signing of the ‘Treaty of the Spirit’– A celebration of nationhood, community, family and Kahungunu.

The Waitangi Day Family Celebration is presented by the Maori Millenium Committee, in partnership with Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. It is also the country’s fourth biggest commemorative event and will be attended this year by the Governor-General, The Honorable Anand Satyanand who will be arriving at 11.00am and will sign the ‘Treaty of the Spirit’ on behalf of the Crown.

Families from Hastings, Napier and across the Hawke’s Bay region are invited to the day of ceremony, fun and free entertainment.

The one day event, now in its 9th year, is ready to go with an exhilarating mix of art, craft, song and dance. Over sixty food, craft & service provider stalls will draw in the crowd. There will be free rides on the giant inflatable slides, obstacle course and bouncy castle, spot prizes, giveaways and so much more. It’s the one day event that you can’t miss.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Event Manager Te Rangi Huata says the Waitangi Day event started off as a small gathering of a few hundred people and has grown significantly over the years and is now Hawke’s Bay regions largest commemorative event for Waitangi Day.

Each year our community has enjoyed the one day event that brings our community closer. Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana says, “Kahungunu Day is all about whanau growing culturally strong“.

Significantly the Waitangi Day event will take place 500m from the site where Ngati Kahungunu chiefs Te Hapuku, Waikato and Mahokai signed the Treaty of Waitangi with crown representatives Major Bunbury and Edward Williams in June 1840 on board HMS Herald.

Historically this area was important as a river highway first by Ngati Kahungunu and then by the first British settlers. Three rivers in past years converged near Farndon Park – Tukituki, Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro. Missionary printer William Colenso built his home nearby at Waitangi and barges of wool and flax were ferried to ships at the river mouth returning to Britain and beyond.

A diverse range of events will take place that have both wide and specific interest appeal with key elements being fun, discovery, participation and interaction.

The programme kicks off at 10am tomorrow at the Farndon Park Domain in Clive. The day will reflect Kahungunu’s cultural diversity made possible by the Treaty of Waitangi.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated will have a stall to promote the work of the organization. There will be an opportunity for people to purchase the much talked about ‘E Oho Kahungunu’ Tshirts and other merchandise. This year there will be prizes for new and updated iwi registrations. Enquiries put in the draw for spot prizes on the hour.

For more information visit our iwi website: www.kahungunu.iwi.nz

ENDS

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