The ceremony, held in the meeting house at the upper treaty grounds, was attended by a raft of politicians including Prime Minister John Key, Labour leader Andrew Little and Act's David Seymour.
Normally a light-hearted affair, Ngapuhi runanga chairman Sonny Tau, who opened and closed the service, joked how this year - the 175th anniversary of the Treaty signing - "politics had crept in".
Hone Harawira was a crowd favourite, drawing laughs when he recalled how he was asked to "join the church" a few years ago by Bishop Kito Pikaahu - who presided over this morning's service - because he thought Mr Harawira would never be made a Government minister.
During his prayer, Mr Harawira asked Ngapuhi to settle differences in the iwi "so that we can come to a measure of unity, kotahitanga, so that as Ngapuhi moves forward, the rest of the country sees the majesty that Ngapuhi can bring".
Mr Key, who addressed the issue of sending troops to Iraq yesterday at Te Tii Marae after it was raised by previous speakers, reflected on loved ones lost during 2014.
"We give thanks to those who serve our country, particularly the men and women of the armed forces - those who are overseas - our police officers and our firefighters," he said.
Mr Little hoped to make today a day of "celebrating, of commemorating and of looking ahead".
Kevin and Michelle Harris and the couple's three children - Tracey-Maria, 21, Te Miringa, 18, Steve, 12 - left their Hokianga home at 4.30am for the service.
It was the fifth year the family's had travelled to Waitangi for the day, Mr Harris said.
"It actually gets to be a really good day in the end," he said.
"It's also good for the kids - the knowledge of what's been and gone, what's going on and what's going to happen," Mrs Harris said.
