New Zealand has celebrated Waitangi Day despite poor weather around most of the country.
In Waitangi, the day started with the dawn ceremony at Te Whare Runanga (the carved meeting house) on the Upper Treaty Grounds which was attended by about 600 people.
At about 9am waka started arriving on Te Tii Beach and by 10am there were about 6 waka on the beach, including Ngatokimatawhaorua, as the kaihoe lined up to perform a mass haka.
The day also saw protesters arrive at 12.15pm for the annual hikoi. This year the main theme was the Trans Pacific Partnership and hundreds of protesters made there way from Te Tii Marae to Te Whare Runanga.
The protesters chanted and sang with flags and placards in hand and by about 1pm they had made their way to the upper marae.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, was not at Waitangi this year. He decided not to attend the celebrations after being told he would not be able to talk about the TPPA.
2 Responses
It was raining for most of the Waitangi day in Auckland.
this is very awesome thanks for making this website!