But reducing the waste from the crowd was a huge task and saw staff spending 14 hours after the event, sorting and washing contaminated waste to ensure it was suitable for recycling.
The Zero Waste programme meant recycling stations at the event came with an educator, whose job it was to help people put their waste in the right cubicles.
"The vast majority of people this year were receptive to recycling even though most needed guidance for the disposal of their waste."
Having a positive reaction from festival-goers to recycle their waste correctly at large kaupapa Maori events like is something Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc want to normalise at their events.
"We have a lifelong commitment to Para Kore - Zero Waste and education is the key," says Te Rangi Huata, events manager for Ngati Kahungunu Iwi.
The idea behind the programme is about changing behaviours towards how waste is disposed of and moving away from the "just throw it away" attitude of today.
Other iwi around the country holding their own large-scale events are increasing their efforts to minimise waste.
Paepae in the Park in Patea was able to divert 70 per cent from landfill while Orakei in Auckland had only 4 per cent waste at their Waitangi Day celebrations.
The target for next year is to improve on that.
