People from around New Zealand will converge on the annual Pakaitore Day celebrations next week, organiser Jay Rerekura says.
Whanganui iwi will be staying at the gardens for several days, at least from Friday, February 27 to Monday, March 2. Mr Rerekura and others are arranging a stage and a public address system and preparing for stalls and portaloos.
Taupo Quay, which divides the gardens from the Whanganui River, will be closed from Bates St to Market Place, from 7am on Saturday until 7.30pm on Sunday.
The biggest day of the weekend will be Saturday, February 28. It's the anniversary of the day Whanganui River people walked on to Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens 20 years ago, to begin their 80-day occupation.
The draft programme for that day begins with karakia by the river at 6am. At 9am there's a powhiri to welcome visitors from around the country. People will also be bringing photographs of others associated with the occupation and now deceased.
The outdoor action begins at 10am, with a funathon for 20 teams. Their members have to run from the gardens to the Wanganui East pool, then down to the riverside, and paddle or row back to the gardens.
At 11.30am there's a kapa haka competition for teams of eight people, and at 1pm it's the hakari - the feast - most likely of hangi food.
Photographs of people who were part of the 1995 occupation will be taken at 2pm, and then photographs of all those present on the day.
At 2.30pm Te Puna Korero begins, a time to reflect on the history of the occupation.
Then comes more kapa haka with Whanganui groups Te Matapihi and Te Taikura o te Awa Tupua performing. Dinner is at 5pm, and after that comes entertainment from people who were present during the occupation. One of them will be Ranea Aperahama, with his band.
The Te Awa Tupua - Voices of the River documentary will be shown.