Music, food and whanau orchestrated Paepae In The Park in Patea yesterday to mark Waitangi Day.
It was the 14th year of the music festival and featured the Patea Maori Club and 10 other groups, including New Plymouth's Quadraphonia hitting 1960s beats and a 10-member reggae group, Selah Saints, who are all related and all from South Taranaki.
The day was warm and cloudy, and about 800 people turned out from throughout Taranaki, Whanganui and Wellington.
In all, 44 stalls were set around the perimeter of the park selling food and crafts.
Paepae In The Park is a free festival and the kaumatua from the Patea Maori Club opened the event with a sacred waiata which set the tone for the day.
Many of the residents from the local rest home, Te Mahana, across the street were wheeled into the park by their carers.
Small children danced, laughed and chased each other with glee while their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents settled back, enjoyed the music and relished the food.
It was a relaxed and happy atmosphere and as one of the organisers, Gloria Tui, said, it is Patea's favourite day of the year.
Even though Patea police constable Piripi Paki was on duty, he was able to enjoy the fun, warmth and friendship.
"Nothing much for me to do - everyone is happy and it's a good day."