Frustrated Ngapuhi stages festival to celebrate heritage

Frustration at the hijacking of Waitangi Day by protesters has prompted the country's largest iwi to launch its own celebration.

Thousands of Ngapuhi tribal members are expected to descend on Kaikohe next weekend for the inaugural Ngapuhi festival.

Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau said iwi members had had enough of the raruraru (trouble) at Waitangi Day commemorations.

"The time has come for a day of celebration. Ngapuhi are politically fatigued and it is time to celebrate our heritage." The two-day festival would showcase the Northland-based iwi's performers and artists, and include more than 150 stalls.

Mr Tau said lectures on whakapapa and the history of Ngapuhi would be popular among the high number of iwi members who would be returning to tribal boundaries for the first time.