Wakatipu has the honour of being the venue for this year’s Otago & Southland Ngāi Tahu Treaty of Waitangi commemorations. These will be held at the Queenstown Recreation Ground on Memorial Street. 

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult advised this is the first time the Wakatipu area has had the opportunity. 

“These commemorations have traditionally been held in Bluff and Dunedin, so we are proud to be able to provide the opportunity for Ngai Tahu to host this event here on Waitangi Day,” said Mr Boult. 

“Waitangi Day is a time to reflect upon and acknowledge the history surrounding te Tiriti – a partnership between Māori and Pākehā. We also have a vastly multicultural community so it additionally provides a chance for us to celebrate the richness that comes from such a diverse population,” Mr Boult said. 

The commemorations will begin with a procession from Earnslaw Park before the public is welcomed onto the Recreation Ground at 11.00am where a temporary marae will be onsite. 

Following the commemorative part of the day, there will be cultural performances from many community groups including Chinese, African, and Brazilian performers. This will begin at 12.30pm and food will be available from various vendors throughout the afternoon. 

“For locals and visitors alike, there will be opportunities to learn about te Tiriti and how it influences our daily lives in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand. All are welcome and I would like to encourage our community to come along and demonstrate the pride we have in our past, our present and our future,” added Mr Boult.