23rd celebration of Pakaitore Day in Whanganui

GET-TOGETHER: Every February 28 since 1995 has been a day of celebration for Whanganui iwi. Photo/ file

There will be a space for Whanganui iwi to talk about matters important to them during their annual Pākaitore Day celebration on Wednesday, Jay Rerekura says.

There will also be stalls and entertainment at central Pākaitore/Moutoa Gardens, with the road between the gardens and river closed for the time. It will be orientation week for Whanganui UCOL, and students are likely to join in.

This year will be the 23rd in which February 28 is celebrated as the day the iwi began their 79-day stay at Pākaitore/Moutoa Gardens in 1995. They wanted to highlight their grievances over river and land, and one result has been a joint governance board for the gardens.

Before this annual celebration of Whanganuitanga a hui is held, and organising jobs are divided up. Mr Rerekura got the job of keeping people informed.

He said iwi will move onto the gardens about 10am on Tuesday to set up marquees and a marae space. They will spend the night and Pākaitore Day will begin at 5am next morning with ruruku (chants) by the river.

At 9am the iwi will prepare to welcome any visitors and also the photographs of people who have died, carried by their families.

From 10am until noon Whanganui's kura Māori and kohanga reo have time to sing and perform, and Te Taikura o Te Awa Tupua will perform as well.

After that comes the kōrero, talk of matters important to the iwi, including progress on their land claims.

"There will be space set aside to talk as an iwi," Mr Rerekura said.

The afternoon will be for entertainment by local bands, and a handful of people will stay another night at the gardens and pack everything up on the Thursday.

Funding support will come from Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, which has taken over the role from the Pākaitore Trust.

Anyone who wants to have a stall on the day should contact Marilyn Kairimu on 020 400 30246.