Fun mix to mark Treaty anniversary

SPORTING TRADITIONS: Youth group R2R will be hosting a ki-o-rahi tournament at the Carterton celebrations at Carrington Park.

For New Zealand's 175th Waitangi Day, Wairarapa residents can participate in an "Amazing Race", fill a time capsule, watch Maori fighting displays, Bollywood performers and Highland dancers, dress up in colonial costume, learn about the region's history, or participate in a debate about the Treaty of Waitangi.

Wairarapa is hosting three major events for Waitangi Day 2015: "Waitangi 175", a family fun day at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton; a similar event at Carterton's Carrington Park; and "Korero Iti", a presentation and panel discussion on the Treaty at Aratoi, complete with rapid-fire speeches.

The Queen Elizabeth Park event, organised by Masterton District Council in partnership with Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitane o Wairarapa, will take place from 11am to 3pm this Friday.

Activities include an "Amazing Treaty Race" involving random facts about the Treaty and Wairarapa's history, a Treaty-themed quiz, children's races, and an interactive workshop on painting tuku tuku panels.

One of the signature events will be a time capsule, which members of the public will be invited to fill with images and writings symbolising Waitangi Day, what it means now and what it could mean in the future.

As a nod to New Zealand's multicultural heritage, there will be ethnic food stalls, and entertainment provided by Bollywood dancers from Douglas Park School, the Dancing Samoans dance troupe, a Highland dancer, a reggae group and a hip-hop artist, plus yoga and Zumba crews from Hot Yoga For You and CLM.

Also performing will be Masterton bands Back The Truck Up and Your Long Lost Uncle, as well as kapa haka and Mau Rakau performances organised by the two iwi - which will also be putting down a hangi.

Iwi representatives will present information about Wairarapa Treaty settlements, and will be on hand to answer questions.

For those keen to dress up in period costume, a photographer will be on hand to capture your image.

Event co-ordinator Trish Keogh said Waitangi 175 will be a chance to celebrate Masterton's multicultural and tight-knit community.

Leading up to Waitangi Day, the Korero Iti ("little talks") forum will be held at Aratoi tomorrow from 6pm.

The presentation will feature Wairarapa speakers of various backgrounds and ages, who will present their thoughts on the Treaty and its significance in a Pecha Kucha style - showing 17 slides in a five-minute speech.

Participants include Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson, archivist Gareth Winter, Kahungunu ki Wairarapa representatives PJ Devonshire and Ra Smith, Solway College student Anna Rossiter-Stead, youth leader Rebecca Vergunst and British migrant Nikki King.

Mrs King, a New Zealand permanent resident living in Carterton, said her speech will focus on Treaty education for new migrants - as she didn't learn anything about it until doing a teaching course.

For southern Wairarapa, Carterton District Council and Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae will run a "family day out" at Carrington Park from 10am to 1pm.

Members of the public will be invited to participate in traditional Maori games, including a ki-o-rahi tournament organised by youth group Rangatahi to Rangatira, and demonstrations on poi and weaving.

Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae kuia "Auntie" Frances Reiri-Smith and the Carterton Historical Society have organised a historical display on Carterton's colonial and Maori history. There will be live bands, food stalls and cultural performances.