Treaty signing marked at Mount Maunganui dawn service

The Waitangi Day dawn ceremony gets underway in Mount Maunganui. Photo/George Novak

There could not have been a more inspiring setting for a Waitangi Day dawn ceremony than the old terraced sound shell at the foot of Hopukiore (Mount Drury) at Mount Maunganui.

The sun was waiting to creep over the horizon as the Ratana band, Te Reo Te Tuatoru, began proceedings, with military trim, before a crowd of about 300.

The crowd was seated on the terraces facing the official party and a beautiful view of a gentle sea.

This year's ceremony is to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The service begun with a karakia (blessing) by tangata whenua and was be followed by a community service, speeches by dignitaries and hymns.

Speakers include Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, Tauranga Moana kaumatua (elders), clergy, civic leaders and rangatahi (youth). They will be followed by an open forum in which everyone has the chance to say what Waitangi Day meant to them.

The dawn service was initiated by Maori elders and members of the Tauranga Moana District Maori Council in the late 1970s and continued to play a significant part in the city's historic heritage. Waitangi Day has been regarded by many as a day of remembering, partnership and looking to the country's future.

Dame Susan was in her fourth year of a five-year term as Race Relations Commissioner.

It was the sixth year that the commemoration has been held on Hopukiore after concerns were raised about the sustainability of hundreds of people gathering on the summit of Mauao for the dawn service.

The service has traditionally been free of the acrimony that has marred celebrations at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.