Families and Discussion the Focus for Waitangi Week

Waitangi Day this year will feature a family afternoon at Puke Ariki Landing.

From 3.00pm-5.30pm on Friday 6 February a free programme of entertainment will be held on the landing, with families encouraged to come along with a picnic dinner.

“Our focus on Waitangi Day itself is on bringing families together to share food and enjoy the entertainment around them,” says Community Development Adviser Kiterangi Cameron.

“We have comedian and actor Pio Terei as MC for the stage performances, and around the landing there will be a Kidzone with a variety of activities as well as a weaving zone where people can watch and learn how to make simple things with harakeke.

“There will also be a free sausage sizzle on the go, so we’d love to see heaps of families turn up to enjoy a leisurely end to Waitangi Day.”

New Plymouth District Council has also organised a week of public discussions on topics ranging from the Pakeha identity to how to apply the Treaty of Waitangi in the workplace.

The Community Korero programme will be held at Puke Ariki from 2-6 February.

Ms Cameron says the annual programme of Waitangi-themed workshops and discussions are very popular among local residents, as it gives people an opportunity to discuss issues with a cross-section of the community.

The Community Korero sessions are free – for more information and to register your interest please contact the council on 06-759 6060 or enquiries@npdc.govt.nz. The programme is:

Treaty 101, giving people an introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi – Monday 2 February from 9.00am to noon, and Friday 6 February from 12.30pm-2.30pm.
Exploring Pakeha identity – Tuesday 3 February from 5.15pm-7.15pm, and Wednesday 4 February from 9am-noon.
Ever been unsure how to pronounce Maori words correctly: A beginner’s workshop on correct pronunciation– Wednesday 5 February from 5.15pm-6.30pm.
How to apply the treaty in your workplace – Thursday 5 February from 9am-noon.