People in the Bay of Plenty region are in for a treat on Waitangi Day this year, with the opportunity to come together and celebrate unity at the Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Festival.

Celebrated annually on February 6, Waitangi Day is the national day of New Zealand, marking the anniversary of the initial signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the same date in 1840.

Held at the Historic Village at 17th Avenue Tauranga, the Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Festival will be a day of reverence, ceremony, and fun. Entertainment and performances will abound, while visitors will also find plenty of food, Māori art and craft workshops, koru sand art, and the newly introduced Treaty Storyboard Trail - the perfect way for family and whānau to learn about and celebrate the history of New Zealand.

Showcasing the importance of ethnicity, community, and connectedness, the event will commence at 10am with a welcome from Mabel Wharekawa-Burt, celebrated actress and community leader who will share the MC duties for the day.

Senior Ngai Tamarawaho kaumātua Tamati Tata leading with a karakia before the Royal New Zealand Navy raises the New Zealand flag and Kathy Philips leads the national anthem. Arataki Primary School is then set to perform a kapa haka before an action-packed day of performances from local musicians and cultural groups.

For the first time, free buses will be available to transport attendees to and from the festival. Cynthia Hamel, Chair of the He Iwi Kotahi Tauranga Moana Charitable Trust that is organising the event, says this is the first time the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has provided this service, recommending families take advantage of the free transport options.

'This is an especially generous gift which provides the ability for people across the entire Bay of Plenty to travel on Baybus for free on the day, even from as far as Whakatane and Waihi,” Cynthia says.

'All they need to do is hop on a scheduled Baybus and connect with a service to the Historic Village on 17th Avenue in Tauranga.

'As part of the activity programme children and adults will be invited to take part in the newly developed Treaty Storyboard Trail and learn fascinating facts about the history of Tauranga, Treaty of Waitangi, the era of battles in Tauranga, as well as how the guiding principles of the Treaty are central to the bicultural future of New Zealand.

'It's perfect for whānau, friends and individuals who want to learn, commemorate, come together and enjoy a day of celebration and fun within their local community.”

He Iwi Kotahi trustee and professional historian Buddy Mikaere, who has a passion for bringing people together, says the Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Festival is an event designed for everyone.

'It's a time for us to commemorate the signing of the Treaty and to acknowledge and embrace Tauranga's growing multicultural, multi-ethnic makeup.

'It is why we named our organising Trust 'He Iwi Kotahi – Together As One” because in a real sense; in a community sense, we sincerely want to promote unity across all our cultures and ethnicities.

'What we are saying is that everyone's views and beliefs deserve respect, and our festival provides that opportunity. We want to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing for all.”

As part of this kaupapa, Te Manu Toroa, a local medical practice, will be on site providing health checks and Whānau Ora information, and Heart Foundation NZ will be testing for diabetes and blood pressure.

Huria Trust from Ngai Tamarawaho hapū will also be on site with information about services they offer such as their iMoko support and their nurse-led clinic.

Although this is a free event, local community organisation Tauranga Sunrise Rotary will greet visitors at the gate and ask for a gold coin koha to help with their ongoing charitable work on behalf of disadvantaged youth.