For event organisers of ‘Raglan Naturally Toitū Te Tiriti – Waitangi Day Whaingaroa 2025’, it was particularly important that the community had an opportunity to come together and mark our national day in ways which were both meaningful and hopeful.
With the aim of educating, creating, and activating, organisers wanted to provide a space where people could learn, acknowledge, affirm, celebrate and kōrero about the foundations and relationships that Te Tiriti o Waitangi established in Aotearoa. Being able to explore how the community can continue to uphold their collective commitment to those foundations was also an aim of the day.
Held at the Raglan Town Hall, over 350 people – locals and visitors of all ages – came in and enjoyed all that was on offer. Similar to Waitangi Day 2024, a historical timeline of key events in our nation’s history lined the walls. However, in 2025 the display started with Māori resistance, from before the signing of Te Tiriti in 1840 to our present day, including the establishment of ‘Te Wakaminenga o Nga Hapu o Nu Tireni’ – the General Assembly of The Tribal Nations in 1808; the creation of the ‘Te Wakaminenga’ flag in 1834; the signing of ‘He Whakaputanga o te Rangatira o Nu Tireni’ – The Declaration of Independence in 1835; and the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi on February 6th 1840.
Particularly popular were photo boards showing the actions our community, including tamariki and rangatahi, had taken since Waitangi Day 2024: community postcard and submission writing workshops; multiple hikoi in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and Pōneke (Wellington); Matariki Indigenous Art and Film Festival; Oliver McLeod’s ‘Geology of Karioi’ book launch and much more. Not only did people have a great time spotting themselves in the displays, it reminded them of what they had achieved over the past year.
The raranga/weaving corner was a gathering point for people as they stopped to watch and learn from local practitioners from weaving collective- Nga hua o te rito (The heart of the flax).
A Te Tiriti activation table, led by volunteers, shared a range of information and resources. This included information about Maori Wards, the value they bring to local decision making and the importance of enrolling to vote in upcoming local body elections in October was one focus. Another was bringing community awareness to the wide range of resources available to help people critically explore their own journeys with Te Tiriti and decolonisation, including upcoming Tangata Tiriti training opportunities.
The community Kotahitanga Korowai, started in 2024, continued to be added to, with the kids really putting the paint pens to great use in creating new flags. Visitors also took the opportunity to add their signatures to the Toitū Te Tiriti Whaingaroa canvas, affirming their support for our constitutional foundations in Aotearoa, and the ‘Together for Te Tiriti’ photo frame was a perfect reminder of the kaupapa of the day.
The Event co-organiser Michelle said,
“We set up the hall in such a way that people could take their time to absorb the content of the displays and think about what it might mean for them. It was great to look over and see whānau, including tamariki and rangatahi, on the couch and beanbags flicking through the resources and books. We want to thank the community for turning out in such great numbers. It really was a beautiful day filled with collective hope’’.
Outside on the median strip under the trees, street artist Dallas Mihinui spent the day creating an amazing Toitū Whaingaroa banner for the community. Also happening outside was the Toitū te Tiriti Tiki Tour where whānau were directed to specific places of interest across town and encouraged to share their discoveries via social media. For some, the Tiki Tour filled in the time perfectly while they were waiting for their delicious hangi. With rave reviews, the community was certainly very appreciative of the hard, hot work done by Leo McQueen and his hangi crew.
Those in the supper room were hosted by amazing kitchen angels, with delicious home baking provided by community members. Although there was no live feed from Waitangi this year, those having coffee and cake were treated to the brand new Radio New Zealand series ‘Treaty Talks’, a visual podcast hosted by Whaingaroa’s very own Kara Rickard that dives deep into the history and impact of Aotearoa’s founding document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
A big thank you to the following sponsors for their generous support of Waitangi Day 2025: Raglan Naturally (Toitū Project Team); PureLink who sponsored and provided our Wifi connection; and Waikato District Council.
Event organisers would also like to pass on a big thank you to those who helped to make the day a success; Leo McQueen & the hangi crew, Margaret Dillon, Linda and Tony Mayow, Tania Lattaney, Dulcie Brunel, Lesley Clough, Meredith Youngson, Karen Britton, Gabrielle Parson, Mike Rarere, Gareth Bellamy, Jasmine Hunter and Sue Noble.
Anyone wanting to be kept updated with ongoing Toitū Whaingaroa events can email tetirititoitu@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list or join the Facebook page Toitu te Tiriti Whaingaroa Raglan.
