About 500 kapa haka performers, plus their family and friends, will come together this weekend to share companionship and celebrate what it means to be Ngati Whakaue.
The Whakanuia is a get-together for the descendants of Ngati Whakaue, with a formal dinner being held tomorrow night , and a dayof kapa haka performances on Saturday .
Image 1 of 17: 070914bf1 Ngati Whakaue Whakanuia held at Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu. Te Hurunga Marae peform Photo/Ben Fraser
The celebration is being held at Te Papaiouru Marae at Ohinemutu, with people gathering from both in and out of Rotorua.
Organising committee member Monty Morrison said the dinner was a celebration where each of the iwi's marae had been asked to put forward one person who had made an outstanding contribution to the marae.
He said some of those attending had served their marae for more than 40 years.
On Saturday the kapa haka will start at 9am and run through to 4pm, with nine groups performing from 11 different marae in front of the main meeting house.
Mr Morrison said it was unique because there were no limits for the number of or age of people performing.
"It's very much a family celebration and focuses on being inclusive."
He said the performers had been rehearsing for about four months and were also performing for a trophy.
Performances would include both old songs and newly created ones, he said.
PREPARATION: Graeme Burnett, owner of Andy's Marquee and Party Hire (left), and Monty Morrison as the marquee goes up for Ngati Whakaue's Whakanuia this weekend. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust trustee Ana Morrison said the event was "by Ngati Whakaue for Ngati Whakaue".
She said it was about all ages - from babies to grandparents - coming together, and sharing companionship and positivity around being Ngati Whakaue.
"It's about bringing our iwi together and connecting people with their marae, so they have a stronger connection with their marae, each other and hapu."
She said the event was held every two years and families had been anticipating and looking forward to it for a long time.
At the recognition dinner the launch of a printed book commemorating the inaugural Whakanuia in 2014 would take place, she said.
Ngati Whakaue Whakanuia: The Whakaue Alumni Dinner - an opportunity to formally recognise the significant contribution made by individuals to the marae, the community and the nation. The Marae Kapa Haka Day - an inclusive day for all members of the iwi, aimed at connecting whanau back to the marae as well as improving knowledge of Ngati Whakaue waiata.
