Volunteers, the Police, the Army, Māori Wardens, Local Government and members of the Media are among the groups who have been formally welcomed onto Te TII Marae at Waitangi.
Today, the local community will remember those who have passed on and also welcome the Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae and his entourage onto Te Tii in celebration of the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Māori Land Court has just recently appointed a new committee to manage Te Tii, Waitangi Marae. Newly elected Chairperson, Emma Gibbs says, “It's only been two weeks since the trustees took up their positions but the work is being done. No one has said a thing and there's been a lot of love from all our people,”
This year, Ngāti Kawa and Ngāti Rahiri descendants will be organising the wider public who will be bringing treaty-related issues onto the Marae over the next week.
Emma Gibbs says, “We need to stop the in-fighting and be as one before the Government.”
Thousands are expected to converge on Waitangi this week and preparations are in full swing as Tent City begins to take shape and more and more people flow into the area over the next few days.
The Iwi Leaders forum will also take place today, however instead of being held at Waitangi this year, attendees who will focus on an Economic Strategy for Māori will gather in Kerikeri, beginning with a pōhiri this morning at 10:30. Te Kāea’s Political Reporter Maiki Sherman will bring you all the details tonight.
Te Kāea will also bring you updates on the progress of the people on the ground at Waitangi, including the ringawera, the kaihoe waka, the tent city residents and other members of the local community preparing for the influx of people.
We will also update our viewers on the progress of some members of the Hokianga community and their march to Waitangi in protest of the intentions of Stat Oil in their rohe.
Included in celebrations on Thursday will be the Waka display held on Hobson’s Beach followed by the Waitangi Eve Concert which will feature a number of talented performers, including Tina Cross.
Māori Television will also have a special Waitangi Day broadcast on Friday which will provide a number of news updates throughout the morning.
For all the latest news and in depth coverage, be sure to tune in to Te Kāea on Māori Television tonight at 5:30 and 7pm with subtitles and follow our updates throughout the day on maoritelevision.com.