African cultures theme of Whakanuia

The Rotorua Waitangi Day event Whakanuia will this year celebrate the city's African cultures.

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village marketing co-ordinator Renee Raimona said each year the event celebrates a different culture "to learn, to share and to acknowledge".

She said the community event was initiated by the Whakarewarewa Village Charitable Trust to bring together all of Rotorua's communities to celebrate Waitangi Day.

Ms Raimona said whakanuia means "to celebrate, to promote or to acknowledge". She said members from the local African communities have been invited to take part in the festivities.

The event includes presentations from the Rotorua Multi-Cultural Council, performances by the Afrikaans Church Choir (made up of members from the Rotorua branch of Afrikaans Christian Churches of New Zealand) and Ghanian performer Yew Boateng and his group Zoh Zoh.

This was the fifth year of the event and among the activities featured will be traditional Maori games, tattooing, carving and weaving, interactive workshops, free health checks, a wearable arts display and contemporary and traditional foods.

Ms Raimona said they expected between 2000 and 3000 people to attend the event throughout the day.

She said the event was becoming more popular and it was also a bonus for the international and national tourists.

The celebration's highlight was the wearable arts showcase at 2.30pm. "There are 20 outfits to be displayed plus the full Emily Schuster collection."

The late Mrs Schuster was a nationally renowned weaver from Whakarewarewa.

Co-organiser Shannon Taia said they wanted many of the exhibitions to be more interactive.

"We want them to be doing things rather than looking. There're going to be lots of things for people to do, including the children."

She said people would be able to make things such as flax woven flowers and get taa moko stencils.

Ms Taia said the day would provide great entertainment for people of all ages and the villagers were looking forward to sharing their Maori culture with the wider community.

Also on Waitangi Day Ngongotaha will be hosting a Kiwi Culture Day. This is a free day of entertainment, live music, culture, games, information and fun being held at Ngongotaha's Railway Trust Park on Taui St. The event starts at 10am and runs until 3pm.