Waitangi Day 2021

On 6 February 1840, Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) was signed at Waitangi, making this day New Zealand’s national day.

As a nation, New Zealanders are enriched when they know the past and this is the perfect day to do that. I wish you and all your whānau a day of reflection and celebration of the nation that we are all proud to call home.

Nau mai, haere mai ki ngā kāinga whakahirahira o te whenua. He taongag tuku iho nā ngā mātua tūpuna. – Come hither welcome to the special places of the land. Treasures handed down by our forebears.

Sir John Clarke KNZM CNZM, Tiamana, Te Kaunihera Māori/Chair, Māori Heritage Council

Every 6 February, we in Aotearoa mark the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between the British Crown and 500 Māori chiefs.

As always, Waitangi Day in 2021 will be honoured across the country with numerous public events. However, there will be changes from previous years; the ongoing caution needed to keep Covid-19 out of our communities means that more of us will be observing the occasion at home, or with whānau and close friends. Practising te reo using the awesome Tōku Reo resource library, cooking a crockpot hāngi with this popular Facebook recipe, or learning waiata by watching Māori Television’s Iwi Anthems are all ways that we can honour our whakapapa and place in the world.

Below are some of the events happening this Waitangi Day – take a look and see how you can get involved.

Please note: the events listed are still going ahead as at the time of publication. We recommend confirming that in-person events are still on before setting off (using the links supplied), due to increased Covid-19 control measures currently in place.

Online Events

Waitangi Day Online Market

Where: Facebook Live, visit www.fobonlinemarket.com.au

When: Sat 6 Feb 1:00pm – onwards

• Online stalls
• Local businesses
• Kai and hāngi orders

Admission: FREE

Waitangi Day 2021 Online

Where: Kāpiti Coast Council’s Facebook page

When: Sat 6 Feb 3:00pm – 4:00pm livestream

• Waitangi ki Kāpiti video series
• Online welcome and karakia
• Livestream of the Waitangi Day commemorations

Admission: FREE

Northland

Waitangi Day Celebrations

Where: Waitangi Treaty Grounds, 1 Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi

When: Sat 6 Feb 5:00am – 6:45pm

• Dawn Service
• Markets
• Music
• Kai stalls
• Whānau fun

Admission: FREE

Auckland

Ngā Hinepūkōrero – Spoken Word Poets

Location: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Wellesley Street East, Auckland

When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 5:00pm (Performance at 12:00pm)

• Spoken word poetry performed by Ngā Hinepūkōrero
• Toi Tū Toi Ora contemporary Māori art exhibition

Admission: FREE

Hamilton

Waitangi Day

Where: Waikato Museum, 1 Grantham Street, Hamilton, Waikato

When: Mon 8 Feb 10:00am – 4:00pm

• Family Entertainment
• Performances
• Tours
• Storytelling

Admission: FREE

Tauranga

Waitangi Day BBQ

Where: Memorial Pool, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty

When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Swimming
• BBQ

Admission:

• Adult: $4.90
• Child (5-15 years): $2.50
• Toddler (2-4 years): $1.30
• Under 2 Years - free: $0.00

Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Festival 2021

Where: The Historic Village, Seventeenth Ave West, Tauranga

When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 4:00pm

• Maori arts and cultural performances
• Educational workshops
• Live music
• Food trucks

Admission: FREE

Hastings

Waitangi Day Fair

Where: Otane Town Hall, Higginson St, Otane, Central Hawke's Bay

When: Sat 6 Feb 9:00am – 2:00pm

• Market stalls

Admission: FREE

Gisborne

Waipureku Waitangi Day Commemoration

Where: Farndon Park Domain, Corner of Farndon Road and Highway 2, Clive, Hastings, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne

When: Sat 6 Feb 7:45am – 12:00pm

• Hikoi
• Powhiri
• Workshops
• Family Entertainment

Admission: FREE

Taranaki

Waitangi Day 2021

Where: Ngamotu Beach, Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth, Taranaki

When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Family Activities
• Musical performances
• Kai stalls

Admission: FREE

Manawatu

Rongotea & Districts Lions Waitangi Day Gala

Where: Te Kawau Memorial Recreation Centre, Wye St, Rongotea, Feilding and District

When: Sat 6 Feb 8:30am – 3:00pm

• Family Entertainment
• Gala
• Kai stalls
• Train rides
• Live music
• Quick fire raffles

Admission: FREE

Wellington

Waitangi Day 2021

Where: Te Rauparaha Park, Norrie Street, Porirua, Porirua - Mana, Wellington Region

When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 4:00pm

• Performances
• Waka tours
• Children’s entertainment
• Crafts
• Market stalls
• Poolside events

Admission: FREE

Te Rā o Waitangi

Where: Waitangi Park, 107 Cable St, Wellington

When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 7:30pm

• Live music
• Whānau fun
• Limited servings of hāngi

Admission: FREE

Waitangi Day at the National Library

Where: Te Ahumairangi Ground Floor, cnr Molesworth & Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington

When: Sat 6 Feb 9:30am – 4:30pm

• Guided tours
• Family-friendly activities
• Te reo workshop

Admission: FREE

Christchurch

2021 Waitangi Day Commemorations

Where: Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum, 1146 Okains Bay Rd, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch District

When: Sat 6 Feb 9:30am – 5:00pm

• Pōwhiri
• Craft workshops
• Taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments)
• Paddling of the Ngāi Tahu waka

Admission:

• Adult $10
• Children under 13 FREE (when accompanied by adult)

Timaru

Waitangi Day

Where: Te Aitarakihi, Te Aitarakihi, Bridge Road, Timaru, South Canterbury

When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 2:00pm

• Cultural activities
• Sausage sizzle
• Bring picnic lunch

Admission: FREE

Queenstown

Waitangi Day

Where: Earnslaw Park, 78 Beach Street, Queenstown

When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Waiata
• Performances and storytelling
• Delicious kai, bring your own reusable containers and cups
• Weaving workshops
• Bring picnic blanket and chair

Admission: FREE

Dunedin

Waitangi Day Whānau Festival

Where: The Octagon, The Octagon, Dunedin, Otago

When: Sat 6 Feb 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Kai stalls
• Crafts
• Musical fun

Admission: FREE

Invercargill

Ngāi Tahu Waitangi Treaty Festival 2021

Where: Te Rau Aroha Marae, 12 Bradshaw Street, Bluff

When: Sat 6 Feb 10:00am – 5:00pm

• Pōwhiri 
• Kōrero on festival kaupapa
• VR marae experience
• ANZAC exhibition
• Ata Whenua, an journey through Fiordland
• Video highlights will be available on the website

Admission: FREE

To find out more about Waitangi Day and its history, please click here.