Annual Traditional Waka Pageant at Waitangi 2009
18 waka will converge at Waitangi
| Date | Venue | City | Country | Duration |
| 9:00am, Fri 6 Feb 2009 | Waitangi | Paihia | NZ |
The brisk waters of the Bay of Islands (Te Pewhairangi) will once again be churned up by a fleet of up to 18 waka from Whakatane, Hamilton, Auckland and Te Taitokerau.
There will be an armada of waka taua (war canoes), waka tete kura (ceremonial canoes) taking part in this year’s commemorations. This will be the most waka at Waitangi since the 1990 Waitangi Day Commemorations. The inclusion of the Tainui waka with the presence of King Tuheitia and the Waikato people will also be a memorable experience.
Wananga have been held in the Bay of Islands, Whakatane and Auckland over the last two weekends with over three hundred paddlers fine tuning their paddling skills, learning waiata, karakia and haka appropriate to waka.
The Waitangi Day pageant will showcase these skills and knowledge
commencing at 9am on Friday 6 February 2009 with karakia in front of Te Tii Marae followed by displays of salutes, turning and paddling skills interspersed with Haka.