A Waitangi Day celebration for the Tauranga community on Tuesday is an opportunity to cherish and enjoy a positive spirit of unity at the Whareroa Reserve at Mount Maunganui.

Ngāi Te Rangi is inviting the Tauranga Moana community to celebrate all the beautiful things about Māoritanga with 'Māori in the Moana' - a Waitangi Day event that includes sharing a meal, music and culture.

Anticipated with enthusiasm, Māori in the Moana, which runs from 9am – 3pm on Waitangi Day, February 6, promises an array of engaging activities designed to honour tradition while promoting community cohesion.

From the aromatic scent of hāngī wafting through to the air to the creative endeavour of learning to craft poi, anyone attending will be able to immerse themselves in and enjoy cultural practices deeply rooted in tradition.

Learn about cooking food in a hāngī at the Waitangi Day ''Māori in the Moana' whānau celebration at Whareroa Reserve. Photo: Supplied.

The idea for the event came off the back of a protest held in December, but with the goal of presenting something more positive and unifying.

“We thought how else can we harness the energy and give people a place where they can express either their support for Māori or celebrating being Maori,” says Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust Deputy CE Roimata Ah Sam.

“Māori being together and thriving is as much of a demonstration of who we are.

“The day is intended to give people an opportunity to rewrite the negative connotations of Waitangi Day and celebrate as whānau by showing off some of the super powers of Te Ao Māori.”

Families are invited to participate and partake in complimentary offerings, including family photo portraits capturing cherished moments, sizzling barbecue delights, expert barber cuts and essential health check-ups, all serving to foster a sense of inclusivity and well-being within the community.

Putting down a hāngī. Photo: Supplied.

“Come to us, we’ll share a meal and celebrate some of the beautiful things of our culture whether it’s waiata (songs) or poi making,” says Roimata.

“Learning with each other around digging a hole, how to prep a hāngī, the yarns that happen around the fire in the early morning as you are waiting for it to cook…and the satisfaction lifting the food up safely for hundreds of people – the beauty is everyone has a role where they feel like they’ve made a difference and are contributing to making kai [food].”

Site map of Maori in the Moana event at Whareroa Reserve. Image: Supplied.

The Ngāi Te Rangi Waitangi Day celebration runs from 9am – 3pm on Tuesday, February 6 at Whareroa Reserve, Taiaho Place, Mount Maunganui.

The cultural day also includes other activities designed to encourage families to connect, including expressing identity with Moko stencils and enhancing financial literacy through informative sessions.

“We will have a whanau portrait space. We are acknowledging that not everyone can go get expensive family photos. So we’ve hired a photographer to come and take photos of families. Whānau memories can be captured where we came together, make kai and take photos.”

Local musical acts are also participating.

“One talent is really excited about the kaupapa they can contribute to exposing more local talent. We want anyone who wants to celebrate Māori.”

Against this backdrop, the opportunity to participate in the vibrant rhythms of kapa haka will offer a further inspiring glimpse into the richness of this local heritage. And it's for all ages, from children through to grandparents.

“Often fathers don’t know their roles at family events," says Roimata.

She says there will be a couple of barbers coming to cut hair “and at the same time there will be conversations, with their tamariki [children] around them”.

“It’s about our mokopuna [grandchildren] growing up with positive Whānau memories of Waitangi Day and learning about some of our history in the process.”

She says it’s about giving people a role in our community.

“Action can be on a placard, it can also be in sharing a meal with whānau and talking about what we can do for our mokopuna to grow up in a place where their Māoritanga is always celebrated.

“In the spirit of unity, everyone is welcome to share a special day with us down at Whareroa Reserve.”

The Ngāi Te Rangi Waitangi Day celebration runs from 9am – 3pm on Tuesday, February 6 at Whareroa Reserve. All are welcome.

For more information contact Roimata Ah Sam, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust on roimata@ngaiterangi.org.nz

Map showing where there will be available parking. Image: Supplied.