The sound of wind and cicadas was broken by a karaka (welcome call) to signal the start of pōwhiri at Ōtākou Marae yesterday, as hundreds of people visited for Waitangi Day celebrations.
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou invited the public to celebrate the nation at the Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival yesterday as part of country-wide celebrations held on Waitangi Day.
The event is hosted on a rotation between Akaroa, Ruapuke Island and Ōtākou, as they were the three places the Treaty of Waitangi was signed as it was first brought down the South Island in 1840.
Last year, the event in Akaroa was not held due to Covid-19, and Ōtākou last held the festivities in 2020.
The karaka was lead by four kaikaraka (callers) on behalf of tāngata whenua (the hosts) and two on behalf of the visitors.
Kapa haka group He Waka Kōtuia accompanied the morning pōwhiri with waiata and haka.
Ōtākou Marae upoko Edward Ellison said he was "absolutely thrilled" to see so many people travel to the marae on such a special day.
"They’ve come out here to enjoy themselves, and take part in the kaupapa of Te Tiriti," Mr Ellison said.
The theme for this year’s festival was "He Waka Unua, aukahatia, whakamatuatia (double-hulled canoe, bind the waka together to steady the journey ahead)".
Mr Ellison said the festival’s theme was about bringing people together, and working as one.
The theme was a good way for people to bridge the "divisive conversations" that had arisen around co-governance over recent years, he said.
An afternoon panel discussion on the theme provided a platform for mature discussion and differing perspectives on the topic, he said.
"The importance of the Treaty of Waitangi is fundamental for us ... it’s so important to us because the things that we inherit, those things that our people held before the Treaty was signed should not have been diminished.
"We’ve been trying to rebuild those customs, traditions, and those rights of rangatiratanga (the right of Māori to self determination) since those times, and this is still very much part of their journey," he said.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said it was an honour to stand at Ōtākou Marae on Waitangi Day and acknowledge iwi, hapū and whānau — "The mana whenua of these lands".
"It’s also an honour to to stand and speak on behalf of my mayoral colleagues, and the Ōtepoti community as we gather to celebrate Waitangi Day together," Mr Radich said.
"Like any good partnership it takes hard work, open conversations, learning, listening and a genuine desire to ensure we are making decisions that will have a positive impact.
"We are learning that is not just what you do — but how you do it."
Following the morning pōwhiri, visitors were invited to enjoy entertainment including waiata, performances and craft stalls were held across the grounds of the marae and many opted to taste the kai provided by Ōtākou Marae and have a korero over a cup of tea or coffee.
