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Three
Auckland landmarks - St Matthew's-in-the-City, Aotea Square and Auckland
Public Library - were the venues for some of this year's Waitangi Day
celebrations on Wednesday 6th February. Events included a spiritual commemoration,
TV panel discussion, live music, speakers, drama, arts and crafts, foodstalls
and a special film screening.
The
events were being staged by Waiata Artists Trust and the Tamaki Treaty
Workers. Waiata Artists Trust has produced Waitangi Day events in Auckland
since 1996. Each year, morning services have been held at St Matthew's-in-the-City
followed by an afternoon of music and performing arts at selected locations
around Auckland. In the past this has included poetry nights in K'Rd and
a One Love reggae concert at Pt England Reserve.
This
is the first year Waiata Artists Trust has teamed up with the Tamaki
Treaty Workers - a regional network of treaty and anti-racism activists
and educators.
Groups represented by the Tamaki Treaty Workers include the Pakeha Treaty
Action, Combined Churches Programme on Racism, Manukau Institute of Technology
and the Kotare Education Trust.
"We
are pleased to be working with a collective that's been dedicated to educating
New Zealanders about the Treaty for nearly two decades," says Waiata Artists
chairman, Will Ilolahia. "Every year it gets harder and harder to promote
the celebration of Waitangi Day because New Zealanders just don't seem
interested anymore. Joining up with the Tamaki Treaty Workers will help
consolidate our efforts."
The spiritual event at St Matthew's-in-the-City was opened at 10.30 am by
Reverend Ian Lawton, followed
by the reading of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Former
Methodist Synod President, Reverend Tavake Tupou then chaired a panel
discussion about the Treaty featuring representatives from the Race Relations
Office, ten major ethnic groups in Auckland and renowned sportsman and
former Aotearoa Award winner, Michael Jones. The discussion was interspersed
with music performances by Lapi Mariner, the Chinese Methodist Choir and
jazz singer, Peta Siulepa. Free refreshments was served afterwards.
Celebrations
continued with the "Treaty in the Square" event at Aotea Square that
began at midday. Musical entertainment included ska band 'Roofdog',
Pacific Island music group 'Kingdom', Angela Afeaki and
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other jazz and pop artists.
Auckland City Councillor, Dr Bruce Hucker, and Network Waitangi's Karen
Way were part of a guest-speaking lineup for a public political forum
at the square. The Academy Cinema at the Auckland Public Library screened
Maori filmmaker, Merata Mita's film, 'Bastion Point - Day 507'.
"It is time there were more public events in Auckland City on Waitangi
Day," says Joan Macdonald a member of the Tamaki Treaty Workers group
"We have supported Waiata Artists Trust at St Matthews in the past, but
for the last few years many of us have also supported the people at Waitangi.
This year we would like to encourage more acknowledgement, in Auckland
of the importance of this day."
A
full list of events can be viewed on Waiata Artists' website at
www.pasifika.net
For
more information contact Waiata Artists on (09) 629 0826 or the Tamaki
Treaty Workers on (09) 360 8001.
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