Waitangi Day in Porirua is all about whānau, good food and entertainment.
The next Waitangi Day celebration in Porirua City will be back on familiar ground.
For the past two years, the February 6 event has been based on the city’s waterfront, but it has returned to a central location for 2020 – Te Rauparaha Park.
Porirua City Council are once again partnering with mana whenua Ngāti Toa to deliver a fun-filled event, one of the largest to take place in New Zealand on our national day.
The headliners on the main stage on Te Rauparaha Park will be announced in the coming weeks, and there will be a number of local, regional and national artists performing on the day.
Organiser Helen Brookes says Te Rauparaha Park, and its proximity to the Arena and Pātaka, will be easy to get to in order to enjoy the large number of activities and fun for all the whānau.
“It’s a fabulous spot for us to host a day for our residents and thousands of visitors to our city, as we celebrate the diversity of Porirua, along with some awesome entertainment and food – all free and fun,” she says.
There will a large kids’ area inside the Arena, which will include traditional games hosted by Ngāti Toa. Capital E will be back once more, with plenty of options for enthusiastic children.
Treaty of Waitangi talks will take place and Pātaka will have creation stations, amongst other attractions.
Waka tours are on once more, with a clearly signposted walkway to the harbour or shuttle trips down to the water, so you can pick up a paddle and get out on Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour. Trips will also be offered on the water by the Wooden Boat Association.
The event, which runs from 11am to 4pm, will be alcohol-free, smoke/vape-free and there will be no dogs allowed.
Food trucks will line Norrie St, so there will be plenty of delicious options to satisfy your puku from the vendors, which have a zero waste kaupapa. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own reusable coffee cups and food containers.
Parking will be available on surrounding streets such as Wi Neera Dr or you can leave your car at the railway station and take the short walk to Te Rauparaha Park.
It’s best to bring cash on the day as not all vendors will have eftpos available, although there are nearby ATMs on Lyttelton Ave if you wish to top up.
The schedule of acts on the main stage, along with other events, will be released early in the new year.
Mayor Anita Baker says the Waitangi Day event held in Porirua is famous, and for good reason.
“The food, the entertainment, families out enjoying themselves – it’s a day to enjoy with people and one where we can celebrate culture, heritage and history.”
26 Nov 2019
