Waitangi celebrations to stream live

Waitangi celebrations will stream live on Freeview.

Those who can't attend Waitangi Day commemora-tions in the Bay of Islands today and tomorrow can, at least, watch the action live.

To commemorate the 175th year since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Hiku Media of Kaitaia will be providing the first ever online live video stream of proceedings straight from Waitangi tomorrow and Friday - Waitangi Day.

Te Hiku Media will live stream through their innovative online TV platform, Peter-Lucas Jones of Te Hiku Media said.

The stream will also be shown by Chanel North.

"The stream will be available on most mobile devices and computers worldwide at waitangi.tv or by visiting tehiku.nz, and video announcing will be in both Maori and English," Mr Jones said.

Te Puni Kkiri is supporting the coverage and staff from the two Northland TV stations - Te Hiku TV and Channel North - will collaborate to make this a success. Channel North will also broadcast the stream on Freeview in the Whangarei region or on www.channel-north.co.nz.
Events this year will be on a larger scale with extra navy vessels, waka and the visiting Hawaiian doubled hulled Va'a Hokule'a.

As a contribution to the historical live stream at Waitangi, Channel North is sending two of its news team to be part of the coverage. News producer Raewyn Barry and technical engineer Liam Moore will be joining a large team from Te Hiku Media.

This year the Te Hiku Media crew will include a technical team, a camera team and a team of video announcers, a crew of about 12 people. The Te Hiku Media teams are led by technical expert Keoni Mahelona, senior digital media editor Junior Balei-Vuku Wilson, and media co-ordinator Maria Tauroa.

Tomorrow's coverage is likely to include powhiri, discussions and interviews centred around Te Tii Marae and concerts by Tina Cross, The J-Geeks and Mika at the Treaty Grounds later in the afternoon.

Coverage will include live karakia at the dawn ceremony, kapa haka performances, interviews, flag raising ceremony and highlights of events from Wednesday through to Friday, and New Zealand's Ardijah.