Unique portraits remember history

Tekitea and Tuinga Weti with Tumanako Mcleod and Kaida-Miharo (1) and Ratima Weti have their portrait taken at the Historic Village during Waitangi Day events yesterday. Photo / Ruth Keber

Unique family portraits were used yesterday to remember history and as a way to capture something different at one Waitangi Day event.

Punters at the Historic Village Waitangi Day celebration were given the opportunity to dress in traditional New Zealand clothing and have a moko applied to their face and get the action captured on camera by a local photographer.

Tumanako Mcleod said the photographs were a different way to capture her family as opposed "to the fake smiles" that were usually captured.

The family of five had ventured home to the Bay of Plenty for a holiday after being in the Gold Coast for two years.

The photos were just one of many of the activities going down for Waitangi Day, with crowds of different nationalities and cultures filling up each of yesterday's action-packed events. Festivities held across Tauranga city varied from a family-filled picnic in Matua to a dynamic airshow in Papamoa, and live music and kapa haka at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue.

Hundreds of people greeted dawn with respect at the Waitangi Day service held at Mount Drury, while those later to rise enjoyed a fun day out at the He Iwi Kotahi event held at Papamoa Beach.

He Iwi Kotahi event organiser Buddy Mikaere said people started turning up as early as 6.30am for his event which also raised money for the Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club.

Event-goers were treated to an aerobatic display from classic aeroplanes from 2pm.

Matua Residents Association committee member Rob Thomson said the picnic down in Matua was a way to bring the community together. "People are able to come down without any money and leave with a smile on their face."

It was the fifth year running for the annual event and they normally got 400-500 people down in Ferguson Park, he said.

Matua resident Bhavisha Kansara said she and her family had been coming to the event every year they had lived in New Zealand. "We have had a picnic and enjoyed ourselves down here. Every year we come down on Waitangi Day."