More than a thousand people gathered outside the gates of Ōtākou Marae bright and early this morning, prepared to celebrate Waitangi Day together in Dunedin.
For Waitangi Day 2023, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou invited the public to celebrate our nation at the Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival.
The event is hosted on a rotation between Akaroa, Ruapuke Island and Ōtākou, as they are the three places the Treaty of Waitangi was signed as it was brought down New Zealand.
Last year, the event in Akaroa was not held due to Covid-19.
Dunedin City Council chief executive Sandy Graham said the free buses, which had been provided from the event, had been "so full" she had seen people stopping on the way down the peninsula in Portobello Rd to car-pool hitch-hikers to the event.
‘‘They’ve come out here to enjoy themselves, and take part in the kaupapa of Te Tiriti.’’
This year's theme for the festival was He Waka Unua, aukahatia, whakamatuatia (Double-hulled canoe, bind the waka together to steady the journey ahead).
Mr Ellison said the theme was about bringing people together and working as one.
This was a good way for people bridge the ‘‘divisive conversations’’ that had arisen around co-governance over recent times, he said.
An afternoon panel talk on the theme He Waka Unua provided a platform for mature discussion and differing perspectives on the topic.
Entertainment including waiata, performances and craft stalls were held following the morning pōwhiri, and many opted to taste delicious kai provided by Ōtākou Marae and have a korero over a cup of tea or coffee.
