Te Wairoa’s Wairoa Waitangi Day festival is all about whanau.

The National New Zealand Day falls next Wednesday, February 6 with a host of activities planned.

This is the second year Wairoa has held its own Waitangi Day celebrations with locals encouraged to join in and have fun.

The festival will be held on the grass area next to the Adventure Wairoa building (the former Rowing Club) on the Lockwood Point end of Marine Parade.

The fun will begin at 10am with morning markets, stalls and activities. There will be displays from local Emergency Services organisations with safety reminders.

Adventure Wairoa’s waka ama paddlers will be active on the river with demonstrations and information sharing.

There will also be a weaving tent with weavers demonstrating their skill.

Organiser, Esta Wainohu of Sport Hawkes Bay, said it is really important everyone who attends registers at the registration tent.

“You will be given a wristband which then gives you access to a free swim, sausage sizzle and spot prizes. Without the wristband, you will not be able to take advantage of the free offers.”

From 2-4pm there will be a focus on Reorua as locals celebrate Wairoa’s journey to becoming bilingual by 2040.

From 5-7pm there will be a family concert with the river as the backdrop. This is the perfect opportunity to pack a picnic or take advantage of some of the food stalls and sit back and listen to some of Wairoa’s talented performers.

Anyone who would like to be involved in the Whanau concert should contact Ms Wainohu on 838 3086.

“We are looking forward to celebrating Waitangi Day in a whanau way and look forward to seeing you all there,” said Ms Wainohu.

Wairoa District Council chief executive Steven May said it is great to have Waitangi Day celebrations occurring locally.

“We are grateful to have secured $3,000 in funding from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage to support this event and we look forward to our community enjoying a fun-filled day.”

30 January 2019

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