Warm, fine day for Waitangi Day festivities

People in other parts of the country have been asking "where's summer gone"?

It seems it packed its bags and headed to Hawke's Bay where hot, dry conditions continue, unrelieved by a smattering of rain last week.

MetService recorded a high of 26C in Hastings yesterday, with 32C predicted for today, and in Waipukurau highs of 29C were reached yesterday, forecast to reach 30C today.

In Napier, it was slightly cooler, reaching 25C yesterday, and likely to tip 29C today.

MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said that there might be some relief coming with showers and southeasterlies forecast for the region tomorrow with heavier rainfall predicted on Wednesday, clearing by Thursday.

"There's a front moving up the country from the South Island on Monday, reaching the North Island on Tuesday bringing rain with it for Hawke's Bay.

"There will be a few showers following in behind but it doesn't look like it's going to hang around for too long, fining up again in the latter part of the week."

In the meantime, the conditions would be good news to the organisers of free events planned to mark Waitangi Day today.

At the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings, the Waitangi Day Big 9 is set to kick off at 10am and will commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between Ngati Kahungunu chiefs and the crown on June 24, 1840.

After the opening ceremony, there will be sports tournaments and entertainment including live music and amusement rides.

After a year's hiatus, the Clive Festival is returning, starting at 8.30am with the laying of a memorial stone to commemorate the signing of the treaty.

This will take place upon the arrival of a hikoi, led by Hastings councillor Henare O'Keefe and Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham, taking a route from Waitangi Park to Clive.

The action will then move to the riverbank by Farndon Park where there will be a pageant depicting the arrival of the first European settlers, escorted by tangata whenua, as well as live music, free rides on the merry-go-round, a train, mini cars and a bouncy castle.