About 1000 people are expected to be at Otakou Marae on Waitangi Day to reflect on the meaning of partnership.
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison said the event was ‘‘very big’’ for Otakou Marae.
It was hosted on a rotation between Akaroa, Ruapuke Island and Otakou, as that was the three places the Treaty of Waitangi was signed as it was brought down New Zealand.
He expected a big turnout, as it seemed to get larger each year.
Covid-19 had cancelled some of the celebrations, but Ngāi Tahu decided to stick to the schedule as to not disrupt the system they had in place, he said.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said the theme of the celebrations this year was he waka unua, aukahatia, whakamatuatia (double-hulled canoe, bind the waka together to steady the journey ahead), which reflected on the meaning of partnership.
The event would start with a pōwhiri at 10am, followed by entertainment and a panel discussion.
Free buses would run to and from the event.
