Hamilton Kirikiriroa will come together again to celebrate at the city’s free Waitangi Day Festival, returning for its second year, this time with more activities and a larger festival space.
This year’s festival has been shaped with tangata whenua, Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa, the Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA), and many community organisations from across the region.
Following the success of last year’s event, the festival will again be held at the Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery precinct and will stretch along the Waikato Awa and into Ferrybank Reserve (Kirikiriroa Reserve).
Following a poowhiri at 12.30pm, Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe will open the event at 1pm. The festival will run from 1pm - 5pm, with performances, kai, market stalls, live music, food trucks, an art tour and family-friendly activities across the river path, reserve, and Te Whare Taonga o Waikato’s forecourt.
Visitors can also enjoy free activities at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato from 10am, including Exscite entry, crafts, and family-friendly workshops.
Mayor Macindoe said he expects the festival to grow year on year in acknowledgement of Waitangi Day and its significance to New Zealand and Hamilton.
“Waitangi Day is about connection – to one another, to our place, and to our shared history. It’s a time to reflect on our past and reaffirm our commitment to a future built on partnership, mutual respect, and unity. The growth of this festival speaks to Waitangi’s enduring importance for our city and its people, and you can see that in the way our multicultural community comes together in the true spirit of Waitangi.
“Last year’s strong turnout shows how important Waitangi Day is to the community.”
Hamilton City Council’s General Manager Partnerships, Communication and Maaori, Janet Carson, said the festival highlights the strength of partnership across Hamilton Kirikiriroa, and that holding the event alongside the Waikato River at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery made it particularly meaningful.
“The festival honours the city’s past while also embracing the partnerships between the community, local businesses, and Maaori that define Hamilton today. Together we chose the central city area by the river as a significant site for the celebration.
“When we gather here in Kirikiriroa to celebrate, we’re not just holding an event – we’re upholding our responsibilities under Te Tiriti, celebrating our diverse communities, and strengthening the bonds that make this place home for all of us.”
Event details
The festival is guided by Hamilton City Council’s He Pou Manawa Ora strategy, which focuses on community wellbeing, strong partnerships, and a vision for the city that celebrates its whole history, and ensures everyone has a voice in developing its future.
The Waitangi Day Festival will run from 1pm - 5pm outdoors, with live music, cultural performances, kai, market stalls, and activities at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato and along the river path in Ferrybank Reserve (Kirikiriroa Reserve).
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato activities will be available from 10am - 5pm, including free Exscite entry, workshops, gallery tours, and family-friendly sessions.
Full festival details are available on the Council’s Facebook event page.