News item image

Making the most of its renovated Museum, Hamilton City Council is recognising Waitangi Day with an action-packed event for whaanau to come together.

Building on Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery’s long-standing Waitangi Day programme, this year will feature a larger event with:  

  • food trucks
  • live music 
  • kapa haka performances 
  • a weaving waananga
  • puppet shows and crafts for kids
  • exhibition talks
  • films. 

The event will be opened by Mayor Paula Southgate and representatives of mana whenua at 10am. 

Mayor Southgate is enthusiastic about the new city Waitangi Day event that recognises the importance of our country’s history and celebrates everyone for whom Kirikiriroa Hamilton is home.

“Waitangi Day offers a wonderful chance for the community to come together and celebrate our rich history and culture. I can’t think of a better place to host an event than our stunning Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery. There is plenty for all to enjoy. I am looking forward to it. Come and enjoy the entertainment and check out some wonderful exhibitions for people of all ages.” 

While the Museum and Hamilton Libraries have run Waitangi event programmes for the last decade, this is the first time Council has taken a city festival approach to Waitangi Day after many years supporting other community events.

Hamiltonians can enjoy food, live music and kapa haka performances, guided riverside history tours to learn about paa sites, gallery tours focused on Te Tiriti, and after-hours activities at the Museum. 

Liz Cotton, Director of Museum and Arts, said: “Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery is proudly bicultural and Waitangi Day provides another opportunity for important conversations about our shared history and the potential of Aotearoa New Zealand’s future. We strive to meet our responsibilities of partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and acknowledge this is an on-going journey.

“Our exhibition He Aa I Uta, He Aa I Tai: Weaving the Elements celebrates the legacy of weaving through traditional and contemporary handcrafted works by members of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa. It provides the aspiration and kaupapa of our Waitangi Day programme: ‘Weaving our future together’.” 

The Waitangi Day Festival will run from 10am – 3pm on Thursday 6 February at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery. The Museum has a full programme of activities including a panel discussion and film screenings that will run into the evening.  

A full schedule of activities can be found here tewharetaonga.nz/waitangi 

All tours and movie screenings will need to be pre-booked. You can do this here tewharetaonga.nz/waitangi  

Check out the programme and tours to book 

Feedback

Has this page been helpful?
Thanks for your feedback.