“The vibe has been positive, there’s been no negativity towards Waitangi or political views, it’s just been a good day for the community.”
There were more than 30 stalls on the grounds with musical performances featuring artists singing mostly in te reo Māori.
Notable performers were Pātea Māori Club, Pātea Area School, and local reggae artist Jay Rei.
Steak and egg sandwiches with Rēwena bread and marinated mussels were popular food choices on the day.
“This is incredibly important for Pātea because this was the first Waitangi event in Taranaki, so it’s very much a part of the Pātea culture,” Inns said.
“We’ve really focused on having a te reo lineup, our headliner is a modern te reo artist.”
South Taranaki District Council Mayor Phil Nixon, who attended, said it was a brilliant atmosphere with huge crowds.
“It went really well,” Nixon said.
“This event especially makes me proud because it’s our only official recognition of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in South Taranaki - so it’s neat to be a part of it.”
Inns said they had organised a new stage setup with a big LED screen that had received “a lot of positive feedback” from the audience.
“We’ve had heaps of people dancing.”
Nixon said the musical talent on stage at Paepae in the Park was unmatched and gave everybody “a warm feeling”.
“Pātea Māori Club is absolutely fantastic, and what would be a thing like this without them,” he said.
Inns said he urged anyone wanting to have a stall in next year’s festival to get in touch ahead of time so as to not miss out.
Nixon said considering it had now been 24 years of the festival, he hoped it would continue long into the future.
Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.
