Waitangi Day Festival – 2018

Tuesday 6 February – Waitangi Day

Upper Treaty Grounds

• 5am Dawn Service at Te Whare Rūnanga
• 6.30am Flag raising ceremony accompanied by Scottish Bagpiper Bain McGregor
• 10am Interdenominational Church service at Te Whare Rūnanga
• 11.30am Royal NZ Navy Big Band performance and Kapahaka at the Flagstaff
• 12noon Royal NZ Navy 21-gun salute from HMNZS Canterbury
• 12.30pm Entertainment programme starts at the Main Stage
• 12.35pm Modern Māori Quartet 1.45pm Te Pū Ao – Kapahaka group 2.15pm Hātea – Kapahaka group
• 2.35pm DDF Dance Crew – local hip hop dance group
• 2.55pm Anuanua Cook Island Dance Troupe
• 3.35pm Te Huaki Puanaki – Māori songwriter and recording artist
• 4.00pm Ki-o-rahi Akotanga Iho– Kapahaka group
• 4.10pm The Cree – Native American dance group
• 4.45 – 5.15pm Royal NZ Navy Beat Retreat at the flagpole. Navy band concert and marching followed by the lowering of the flag
• 5.25pm Creative Natives – Northland based reggae band
• 6.15pm House of Shem – harmony trio comprised of NZ artist Carl Perkins and his sons

Waka stage

• 10am – 4pm Market stalls selling arts, craft and food will be operating
• 12.05pm Northland Hip Hop dance group
• 12.30pm The Martin Whānau – classical musicians
• 1.00pm Te Pū Ao – Kapahaka group 1.30pm Hātea – Kapahaka group 2.00pm John Timberjack Donoghue – song writer and recording artist
• 2.30pm Te Huaki Puanaki – Māori songwriter and recording artist
• 3.00pm DDF Dance Crew – local hip hop dance group

All day Waka will be on the water throughout the day with an appearance by the world’s largest ceremonial canoe, Ngātokimatawhaorua (tide and weather dependant).

Sports Field Area (opposite the Treaty Grounds)

• 9am – 3pm Whakanui i te Ao Māori (celebrate all things Māori) with Te Taitokerau Health and Education Providers and a full programme of entertainment from the Ngati Hine FM stage
• 10am – 4pm Children’s fun rides and various activities including a bouncy castle
• 10am  – 4pm Market stalls selling arts, craft and food will be operating

Notes on admission

Normal admission fees apply for all visitors on 5th February from 9.00am to 4.00pm. FREE entry to Waitangi Treaty Grounds applies from 4.00pm on 5th February until the end of 6th February. The Waitangi Festival is a family friendly event free from smoking,  alcohol and fizzy drinks. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds festival programme is subject to change without notice.

Transport & Parking

Bus services

On Tuesday 6th February, a FREE bus service will be provided for visitors parking at Bledisloe Domain. Parking costs $5 per vehicle. All proceeds from parking go to the Bay of  Islands Rotary Club. Buses will run continuously between Bledisloe Domain and the Treaty Grounds from 8am to 8.30pm.

Ferry Services

On Tuesday 6th February Fullers GreatSights will be operating a Waitangi pier stop on their regular ferry service from Russell. Ferries depart Russell on the hour and Waitangi (to Paihia) at 15 past the hour from 9:15am to 7:15pm.

Getting around

Download a map of the Treaty Grounds here