'Feel good' festival to celebrate Waitangi Day

The many events planned for Waitangi Day acknowledge the national day is as much about celebrating life in modern New Zealand as it is about the shaping of a nation 173 years ago.

There will be song, dance, games and all the fun of the feel-good festival the generally positive public acknowledgement of the Treaty has become, the venue for much of which will be the Treaty House Grounds.

During the day, which will start for many at the dawn service at the Whare Runanga in the Treaty House Grounds, there will be emergency services' demonstrations, Naval band performances, prayer, educational inter-activities, Maori arts, sports and entertainment, international entertainment, peace campaigns, green living displays, fitness and weight advice, guests, fairground rides and more.

At Te Tii Marae (called the "lower" marae) there will also be fun, games, laughter, hospitality, food, stalls, sales, music and talk. It is at Te Tii that the real Waitangi Day talk-fest takes place.

The debates are sure to include whether Waitangi Day symbolises the founding of a major Victorian English outpost in the South Pacific or the creation of a partnership based on the concepts of self- or co-sovereignty; has it benefited or held back Maori; is it a crock?

And while the right to express free speech is a tradition, everyone is expected to respect the marae protocols and hospitality.

In keeping with Te Tiriti o Waitangi Board of Trustees' kaupapa for a healthy and peaceful forum, no dogs, drugs, gang insignia or alcohol will be allowed on the marae grounds, and smoking will be allowed in marked areas only.

The comprehensive marae programme, organised by the trustees, with Ngati Rahiri and Ngati Kawa, begins on Monday, February 4. While the Waitangi Trust turns on the crowd-pleasing family festival in the Treaty House Grounds on February 5 and 6, "Waitangi" is a three day event for iwi hosts and guests at Te Tii.

The first two days are given over to welcoming other iwi, politicians and party representatives, His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, Royal New Zealand Navy, Waitangi Trust officials and other dignitaries.

Earlier on Monday, a powhiri will be held for the Police, Maori Wardens, Te Taitokerau MP Hone Harawira, kaitiakitanga, media, whanau supporters and stallholders. Also on Monday, the big marquee on Ti Tii's grounds will be the venue for discussion.

Tuesday is the main meet-greet-and-posture day - the Prime Minister's arrival on the marae foreground is usually a flashpoint for any protest; in past years punches and mud as well as words have been thrown.

On Wednesday, Waitangi Day itself, the forum tent will host presentations open to anyone about the Treaty, the claims' process and progress; the Northern Wars; sovereignty and guardianship issues; education and its social, cultural and economic impacts; alienation of Maori lands; Native and Maori Land Courts; Maori trusts and incorporations; and environmental issues.