As Māori culture has increasingly been embraced, how Auckland marks Waitangi Day has changed. This year, as well as three major events, the history of Tāmaki Makaurau will be brought to life through the medium of light.
February 6 will mark 179 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and Auckland Council has partnered with Vector and local iwi to dazzle city-goers with a light display on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
In 2018, Vector and Auckland Council launched Vector Lights to illuminate the bridge, with special shows choreographed for events such as Matariki and Christmas. Local iwi Te Kawerau a Maki and its chairman and historian, Te Warena Taua, were the hosts of last year’s Matariki light display and have been engaged again for this year’s Waitangi Day celebrations.
For the show (2-7 February, every half hour from 9pm to midnight), Taua and his iwi have designed a unique, new narrative. The story is set around islands in the Waitematā Harbour which formed part of the tribe’s Treaty claims. Accompanying the eight-minute show is a soundtrack on which Taua recites ancient karakia (prayers) about the Tainui waka, from which the iwi, and many names in the Auckland area, originate.
Stories of 19 mana whenua
Auckland Council’s arts and culture programmer, Ataahua Papa, says the council recognises 19 different mana whenua groups, and each will get the opportunity to tell its own story.
The story the lights will tell on the bridge is part of a wider focus on recognising the importance of the Treaty. “Celebrations have changed drastically in the last few years,” says Papa. “The council worked with a local arts group in Manukau 20 years ago to produce the biggest Waitangi event outside of Waitangi; 40,000 people would go some years because it was the only one. Now there are three main events every year and the council is involved with supporting each of them.”
Waitangi Day events across Auckland
Aside from the longtime event in Manukau, Aucklanders can celebrate Waitangi Day with music and food at big events in Ōkahu Bay and at Hoani Waititi Marae in Oratia. Each has its own perspective, Papa says, but they are all unified by a single theme.
“We have lots of different mana whenua and mataawaka stories out there. We’re trying to give everybody an experience that educates them about Waitangi – it's more than just a protest up north.”
Our nation’s indigenous culture is being embraced by more and more New Zealanders, as seen in the increasing use of Māori language and symbols on signage, infrastructure, in place names and in the media; the growing number of people learning te reo; businesses and groups recognising Matariki, the Māori New Year; and Māori concepts being considered as part of the Te Aranga principles in the Auckland Design Manual. Culture is recognised as a powerful point of difference, and in Auckland, residents now expect to be able to celebrate it and Waitangi Day at major events in their own city.
Seeing the stories of iwi up in lights or spending the day at a festival isn’t just about the parchment signed 179 years ago. “Manukau was actually one of the sites where the Treaty was signed,” Papa says.
“There are lots of stories people don’t know about Auckland. So this year, our narrative takes it back to a time before the islands in the Waitematā were even islands.”
She says learning our history will give Aucklanders a better appreciation of where they live. “It hasn’t always been skyscrapers.”
Story: Sam Button
