New Zealand celebrates nationhood
08 Feb 2010
It was a sentimental New Zealand national Waitangi Day on Saturday (6.02.10), as New Zealanders gathered to celebrate a day of nationhood and togetherness.
A shower of rain at the break of dawn didn’t stop a crowd of more than 1000 paddlers, who came from all over New Zealand to Te Tii Marae at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, for the relaunching of the country’s biggest historic waka / ceremonial Māori canoe, Ngatoki.
70th birthday celebration
A fleet of 22 waka took to the choppy waters just after 9am to celebrate the 70th birthday of Ngatoki which had just undergone extensive refurbishment.
The day started with a dawn karakia or blessing, and speeches by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and various other political and local leaders.
Ngatoki captain Joe Conrad, whose father captained the waka in the 1970s, described it as "one of the best atmospheres we ever had".
"Everything gelled together and the feeling was out-of-this-world. It was especially emotional for the old fellas, who had been attending Waitangi Day for the last 20 to 30 years, and even the ones who were new."
Emotions ran especially high for two respected Māori elders in their late eighties, Hector Busby and Pene Mamaku, as Ngatoki took to the water.
Busby, a master waka builder and Mamaku, a talented musician, were both surprised and moved by the work that had gone into the fleet.
"It was very hard keeping the [preparations] a secret from Uncle Hector and Uncle Pene, but worth it in the end. Those two must have cried a bucket of tears between them," Conrad said.
Glass Murray, a retired engineer and the last living member of the crew who paddled Ngatoki during the February 1940 centennial celebrations of the Treaty of Waitangi, was also on hand to celebrate.
"He shed a few tears too," Conrad said.
Prime Minister’s speech
Prime Minister Key was present at dawn for the official ceremony at the Treaty Grounds.
Mr Key thanked those who had gathered there 170 years ago, when New Zealand’s founding document the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, for "the courage, the vision and the wisdom to realise that our great nation could be a country where we understand each other’s culture and build a place where our children and grandchildren can grow up and enjoy the very best of the world."
"Our challenges will be like so many other nations, but we know that our people can rise to that challenge. We know that our country can be even stronger."
Fun-filled day
The warm summer weather signaled a harmonious day of family fun for visitors to Waitangi.
Two entertainment areas were reserved at the Treaty Grounds, one on Hobson’s Beach and the other on Waitangi Green.
About a dozen acts performed throughout the day, with the highlight being an evening concert at the Hobson’s Beach stage by New Zealand soul music diva, Whirimako Black.
Waitangi project manager Larry Jacobson, who helped look after the performers, said there were a large variety of music, stalls and entertainment to choose from.
"There were a huge number of families and a relaxed, positive atmosphere. One of the highlights would have to be Whirimako Black. She had a magnificent voice and an excellent backing band of top musicians."
Other entertainment highlights of the day included performances by the Royal New Zealand Navy Band, kapa haka groups, a 21-gun salute from HMNZS Canterbury at midday, a 100-strong guard of honour, beat retreat and flag lowering during the ceremonial "sunset" at 5.30pm.
Background: Waitangi Day
Every year on 6 February, New Zealand focuses on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document.
The day opens with an official ceremony, performance and parade by the Royal New Zealand Navy and local cultural groups, as well as a variety of sports and cultural events.
Commemorations are also held at other New Zealand centres.
More information:
Maori v Pakeha in national day rugby face-off
Maori waka fleet to celebrate Waitangi Day
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Celebrating Waitangi Day
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