About 300 people gathered at for the Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Dawn Service this morning.
The special event held at Hopukiore (Mount Drury) marked the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and started about 6.30am despite the gustly southerlies.
The day kicked off with a karakia (blessing) by Tangata Whenua followed by a church blessing and hymns, a waiata (or song) by Waiata International, and several guest speakers.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby and Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson plus other dignities attended the event.
Mr Crosby said it was great so many members of the public had turned up to the event despite the windy conditions.
Last year was a very significant year for Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, he said.
"We acknowledged the battles at Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) and a few weeks later we acknowledged the batters of Te Ranga (Pyes Pa) and all the issues and debates that followed in my view were healthy and I hope they they continue into 2015.
"We are a growing city and we are going to continue to grow, it is not just important, it is critical that as we do grow and develop that our history is not only maintained but infact it is enhanced."
Several members of the audience got up and spoke in the open forum section of the programme.
The event closed with a karakia and breakfast for kaumatua, kuia and dignitaries followed at Whareroa Marae.