At the marae
Following the success of the inaugural Waitangi at the Pa, held at Hakatere Marae to mark Waitangi Day last year, members of the marae are inviting everyone to join them again this year.
Marae assistant co-ordinator Tk Paul said the February 6 celebration would be a great opportunity to come together and share kai.
Paul is also the kaiwhakahaere (organiser) of Te Whanau O Hakatere, the marae’s newly formed adult kapa haka group. He said this year’s event would be even more special as the group would be doing its first public performance.
‘‘We are really excited about being able to perform, but also a bit nervous,’’ Paul said.
‘‘The number who signed up to join the kapa haka group was about 80, a lot bigger than I expected. In the end we had to close of registrations for the group for now,’’ Paul said.
‘‘Many in the group haven’t performed for over 20 years and about half of them a new to kapa haka,’’ he said.
Kapa haka kaiako (instructor) Ellie Smith has worked hard with the group over the last few weeks to get them ready to perform.
A specially designed logo has been created by Smith for the kapa haka uniforms. The logo features Te Kie Kie Maunga (Mt Somers), Nga Pae Maunga (surrounding mountains), Nga Pa kihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha (Canterbury Plains), Nga awa e wha – the four rivers Rakaia, Hakatere Hekeao and Rangitata and Ta tou te whanau the people and their learning journey.
A wananga (workshop) will be held for members of the kapa haka to make their own pois and heru (feather combs) prior to Waitangi Day.
Ashburton College’s kapa haka group will also perform at the marae’s Waitangi Day celebrations.
It will begin with a powhiri. Visitors are asked to gather at the gate on the Marae by 7.55am, following that marae members Henare Kaa and Tiipene Philip will speak about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. A light breakfast will be offered before the kapa haka groups perform.
– Waitangi on the Pa, February 6, 8am to 10am, Hakatere Marae, State Highway 1, Fairton. The event is free but donations welcome. To register go to facebook.com/events/1131680012012241
At the domain
Picking up a market day deal or two is on the table on Waitangi Day next week in Ashburton.
The annual Ashburton Market Day event, usually run alongside Multi Cultural Bite, will be at the Ashburton Domain on February 6. It will be held behind the layby area entrance, off West St, from 10am to 3pm.
However, as reported in The Ashburton Courier last week, organisers of Multi Cultural Bite have pushed their event back to March 1.
Market organiser Carol Johns said although it was sad Multi Cultural Bite would not run on the same day, she did not believe it would hamper market day attendance.
‘‘(I) don’t think it will make a difference as the market day is an established event. It’s a great setting and a relaxing laid back day.’’
She said the Waitangi Day market had 80 sites booked. Stallholders would be selling wares ranging from fresh fruit, relish and sumptuous homemade baking to fashion clothing, original craft and jewellery.
She said there were about 10 new stallholders and five new food vendors, including waffles and mini donuts, as well as fresh fruit and ice creams.
– Ashburton Waitangi Day Market will be on February 6, at the Ashburton Domain behind the layby on West St, 10am to 3pm.
At the lake
Kite flyers from Australia and around New Zealand will be flying at Lake Hood on February 6 from noon to 4pm. It is the Lake Hood Kite Day event organised by the South Island Kite Tour. Take your kites down and join in or just have a picnic under the tress and enjoy the displays.
