Waitangi Day brings people together

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Rosanna Green with Lucia Green (3), Percy Tar Holland (8, back), Malachi Tai Holland (6), Mereana Fullerton (6), Joanna Fullerton and Lorenzo Green (6) watch entertainment on-stage.

Face paint, touch football, Irish dancing and tino rangatiratanga flags - Waitangi Day in Hamilton is an eclectic affair.

Elliot Park in Nawton hosted a throng of Waitangi revellers with Neil Tolan, from the Western Community Centre, expecting 4000 people by the end of the day.

'There will be a whole mix from all over Hamilton and definitely, the touch tournament draws a lot of people from all around the area,' Tolan said.

'There are not a lot of other events around Hamilton so I think it is going to be quite big.'

Irish dancers Libby Jones, 11, Mia Cooper, 9, Emily Cooper, 3, and Katie Young, 10, dance to 'Poi E' on Waitangi Day at Elliot Park, Hamilton.

Jen Huihen (centre) and the Chinese Dance Group entertain the crowd on Waitangi Day event at Elliot Park, Hamilton.

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Children wore painted butterflies on their faces, the smell of frying hot dogs from food trucks wafted through the air and families sat and watched Irish and Chinese performers take to the stage.

Joanna Fullerton, whose daughters dance with an Irish dancing troupe, said she might not have known about the event had her children not been involved.

'But I am very happy to be here to celebrate,' Fullerton said. 'It's bringing people together.'

Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa has held Waitangi Day events in Hamilton for more than a decade with the last three years at Nawton.

Kaumatua Beau Haereroa said Waitangi Day was a day for the people of New Zealand.

'Any plane that lands, any ship that anchors in any harbour - the Treaty of Waitangi is set up in such a way that it caters to the needs of bringing people together.

'The principles of the Treaty of Waitangi is uniting people, making people care for each other, making people aware of each other's needs.'