Monday 6th Feb 2023

HB Sports Park

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Why We Celebrate Waitangi Day 2023 in Hawke’s Bay

 

On February 6 in 1840 rangatira chiefs in the Bay of Islands signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British Crown. During the course of that year Kahungunu chiefs also signed the Treaty at various places in Hawke’s Bay including the mouth of the Tukituki River in East Clive on 23 June that same year.

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182 years later we celebrate this remarkable occasion of nationhood with fun, sports and families coming together.

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Here in Hawke’s Bay we have been celebrating Waitangi Day publicly since 2000. Thousands of New Zealanders in other parts of the country are doing the same and numbers are rising year by year.

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We do have so much to celebrate about our nation and our achievements too. It’s the 12th year Hawke’s Bay Sports Park hosts Waitangi Day  celebrations. This is now the single biggest annual event at the sports park attracting 10,000+ visitors.

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An arena size stage showcases New Zealand talents with kaumatua and kura kapa haka, multi ethnic dancers, singers and musicians.

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Kai is a wonderful part of the day, some of it typical kiwi, hot dog with sauce, Rewena bread, hangi and also exotic foods brought to us by new migrants from all around the world who have now called New Zealand their home as well, and we welcome them all.

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We are aiming to be a sustainable event too and currently divert 86% of our waste from the landfill. We provide free water hydration stations and remind everyone to pack their own refillable water bottles.