Well over 1000 people are estimated to have been at the Aotearoa Morehu Day Multicultural Festival which was held at Napier's Marine Parade Soundshell on Saturday.
The festival, organised by young Ratana faithful, featured seven hours of free entertainment, with particular respect for kaumatua who were later guests at a dinner and ball at Omahu Marae, featuring the revived Maori Volcanics Showband.
Six marae in the Napier-Hastings region were used to host hundreds of visitors for the weekend, which opened with a powhiri at Moteo late on Friday afternoon.
Morehu Day festivals have been held in other areas, including in Australia.
■ More pictures, Page 15.