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At the Te Hana ceremony, from left, Linda Clapham, Mikaera Miru, Ben and Kate de Thierry, Tim Holdgate, Colin Smith and Ray Hollis.
The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was commemorated in the marae at Te Hana Te Ao Marama this month, thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
There were addresses by Mikaera Miru, Ben de Thierry, pastor Ray Hollis and Local Board members Colin Smith and Tim Holdgate. Board members spoke both of unity and the need to acknowledge historical grievances.
In 2004, the annual ceremony was declared the official Waitangi Day event for Rodney by then district Mayor John Law.
Trust member Linda Clapham says the annual celebration has resumed after a four-year hiatus, marking what will be a renewed energy at Te Hana this year. The Waitangi Day celebration saw lines of stalls, a trial run for a market to be held at the cultural centre on the first Friday of each month.
Te Hana has also been confirmed as part of the line-up for Auckland Council’s Elemental light and food festival in July, hosting an event titled Kaitiakitanga and Kaipara Kaimoana (guardianship and Kaipara seafood).There will also be a Matariki Maori wearable arts event in June.
