Waitangi Day sights set on peace, celebration

PADDLING PEACE: Organisers of this year's Waitangi Day are hoping for a repeat of last year, when the mud-slinging and confrontation of the past were replaced with celebration.John Stone By Mike Barrington Prime Minister Helen Clark is expected back at Waitangi Day celebrations this year, with organisers hoping for a repeat of the peace that reigned last year. Julie Clauson, from the Prime Minister's office, said Miss Clark expected to return to Waitangi for the 167th Treaty of Waitangi anniversary commemoration ceremony on February 6. Her Waitangi Day plans would be ``firmed up'' next month. New Governor General Anand Satyanand, who took up his post in August, is also expected to attend. His Waitangi Day plans will be announced next month. Meanwhile, a large waka fleet and an increased Navy presence augur well for the ceremonial aspects of the commemoration, now only six weeks away. And Waitangi Day Organising Committee co-chairman Pita Paraone said entertainment, sports and children's activities at the Treaty Grounds would ensure families enjoyed the occasion, which was attended by about 45,000 people last February. ``It's looking good as long as we have fine weather,'' he said. Preliminary events for the treaty anniversary commemoration will include a Navy cocktail party on board HMNZS Te Kaha anchored off Waitangi on Saturday, February 3. The Navy will ferry invited guests out to the frigate. If tradition is followed, the Governor General is likely to host a social function for invited guests at the Copthorne Hotel on Sunday, February 4. From 10am until noon that day, a 50-man guard from Te Kaha will rehearse the beat retreat and sunset ceremony they will perform on the Treaty Grounds. Also on February 4, local school children will tour Te Kaha and the Navy Band and kapa haka group will perform at The Centre in Kerikeri from 1-3pm. On February 5, the Navy Band will play at Russell from 10-10.45am and on the Village Green at Paihia from 2-2.45pm. Another rehearsal of the beat retreat and sunset ceremony will take place at the Treaty Grounds from 5.30-6pm on February 5, with the Navy Band and kapa haka group involved and waka crews participating. On Tuesday, February 6, commemoration of the treaty anniversary will begin with dawn karakia (prayers) at the Treaty Grounds followed by the Navy raising flags in front of the Treaty House. The 35m waka taua (war canoe) Ngatokimatawhaorua will be moved out of the canoe house at Hobson Beach to make way for a mid-morning interdenominational church service there led by the Anglican Bishop of Tai Tokerau, Bishop Kito Pikaahu. During the service, the Treaty will be read in Maori by a descendant of a signatory and in English by a Crown representative. The Navy Band will pay at the flagstaff at 11.40am and Te Kaha will fire a 21-gun salute at noon. Two performances by the Navy Band and two by the Navy kapa haka group will be among the entertainment at the Treaty Grounds during the afternoon. The Ngatokimatawhaorua is expected to be returned to the canoe house at about 5pm. The beat retreat and sunset ceremony will take place at 5.30-6pm with the Chief of Navy inspecting the 50-man guard before the flags are lowered. The Navy Band and kapa haka group will participate and waka crews will be included if available. At least 10 canoes are expected to be on the water at Waitangi. Waka kaumatua Hekenukumai Busby said they would include his twin-hulled ocean-going craft Te Aurere, Te Wairoa from Dargaville, two waka from Whangaroa, two from Wananga Aotearoa and others from Ngati Kahu, Ngati Manu and Panguru. Mr Busby is also expected to launch the 13.5m waka Hinemoana from Te Tii Beach in an evening ceremony in front of the Waitangi Marae.
The Hinemoana _ which will be crewed by women _ is still under construction at Mr Busby's workshop at Tokerau Beach. He said a totara log from the Pureora Forest from which it was to be built had looked good, but water had ``sneaked in'' and its heart was ``honeycombed'' with rot. As a result, the Hinemoana being made of kauri. Carving of its prow and gunwales had been completed, the stern was nearly finished and there was only the hull to do. Mr Busby was unconcerned about Waitangi Day being just over the horizon. He has been involved in building eight canoes in Hawaii over the past few years, one of them completed with carving in only 10 days. ``The Hinemoana will be ready,'' he said confidently.