How do we celebrate as the capital city?
Over the years, Waitangi Day has been celebrated in Wellington with a variety of events, including Te Rā o Waitangi.
Back in 1995 we marked the occasion on the waterfront at Frank Kitts Park.
Entertainment on offer included a Māori women’s performance group, while sculptors such as Marie Moanaroa-Parata-Munroe carved stunning works from chunks of Ōamaru stone, his in particular exploring a motherhood theme.
A waka was also on display in the lagoon, its taurapa proudly decorated with feathers (called the puhi ariki to acknowledge Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind).
Waitangi Day with a reggae twist!
On 6 February 1998, Wellington also celebrated popular reggae star Bob Marley’s birthday with the first One Love festival. This introduced a new flavour to Waitangi Day, as well as complementing its values of peace and unity.
References:
Incinerator: WCC Archives Ref: 00138:0:12484
Te Rā o Waitangi: 00558:1:2: Film A: 4A, 9A, 24A; Film B 11A, 25A