Hawke’s Bay’s Waitangi Day: Hīkoi, heat, family fun and red, red wine ahead

Waitangi Day fun is on the cards again at Mitre 10 Park, one of several big events in Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's national day. Photo / Paul Taylor

The next Hawke’s Bay appearance of a timeless English reggae band could be the region’s biggest concert of its type this summer.

But tickets remain on sale for Friday’s Waitangi Day concert at Tremain Field, Park Island.

More than half the capacity of 10,000 had been sold by midweek for Kingston Calling, the second night of a seven-stop “Big Love” North Island tour, all set up awaiting the entourage’s arrival from a Thursday-night 770km away in Whangarei.

The reggae feast features UB40 with Ali Campbell, Kiwi legends Katchafire and The Black Seeds, and Corella, formed in 2017 by Royal New Zealand Navy members.

It starts at 3.15pm, on what is forecast to be an increasingly fine day, with temperatures up to 26C.

With the original band formed almost 48 years ago, there have been at least three UB40 concerts in Hawke’s Bay.

Napier City Council events manager Kevin Murphy said the council is keen to attract more concerts to the park and is hoping for close to a sell-out.

The last paid concert at Park Island three years ago featured hip-hop and R&B, but the park has since staged two Christmas in the Park events.

Hawke’s Bay Waitangi Day attractions in Hawke’s Bay kick off with the Waipureku Waitangi treaty signing commemoration at Te Awa o Mokotūāraro (Clive), starting at 7.45am with karakia at Atea a Rangi, Waitangi Reserve, followed by a 3km Hikoi of Unity to Farndon Park.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi’s family fun day runs from 9am-3.30pm at Tomoana Showgrounds.

Doug Laing is a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter, based in Napier with more than 40 years’ experience covering local, regional and national news and events.