More than 1000 visitors attended the Waipaopao Anzac Bay Summer Kick-Off Festival on December 2.
This was the free event’s second year running, with organisers saying it delivered a magical day in the popular picturesque bay.
Reon Tuanau, of Te Whānau a Tauwhao of Otawhiwhi, opened the festival, speaking of the significance of Waipaopao and encouraging the crowd to be kaitiaki (carers) of the land.
He also shared this year’s festival focus: he oranga taiao, he oranga tangata – a healthy environment, a healthy people.
The Waihī Beach School kapa haka group entertained their home crowd with powerful and moving performances, followed by the live music line-up featuring the Harmonic Resonators, Stylus, and Matty and the Buxtones.
On top of the live entertainment, the festival provided plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained, from festival face painting, balloon folding and hair wrapping, to a colouring in creative corner, nature hunt, traditional weaving workshop and a wide variety of food trucks.
“The collaboration between Waihī Beach Events & Promotions and Te Whānau ā Tauwhao enabled the community and visitors to come together in a significant spot here at Waipaopao, to learn more of the history and to celebrate the start of the summer season,” Reon said. “The kaupapa around this event is so positive, we can encourage our tamariki to care for our whenua for the future.”
