Te Tiriti in the Tron: Should Hamilton have its own civic Waitangi celebration?

As the country’s founding document Te tiriti o Waitangi lives and breathes across Aotearoa, from the shores of Waitangi in the Bay of Islands to the bends of the Waikato River in Hamilton.

Thousands ascend onto the Waitangi Treaty grounds near the northland town of Paihia each year to commemorate the signing of the historic agreement.

But almost 400 km south in Hamilton city, a case for a civic celebration of their own wasn’t out of the question for local leaders, politicians and mana whenua.

Hamilton has a successful track record of hosting a range of national and international calendar events. Recent examples include the Special Olympics, the HSBC Sevens tournament and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 coming up in July.

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The Waikato region’s treaty story was a narrative fraught by decades of bloodshed, land confiscations and displacement.

This was recognised in 1995 by the Raupatu claim. A deed of settlement signed between the iwi Waikato-Tainui and the crown included a formal apology recognising iwi grievances.

But more than 150 years on, reparations were still being paid to Māori and for some that suffered there was still “unfinished business”.

For Ngāti Wairere descendant Wiremu Puke a civic commemoration for Waitangi would not only be an opportunity to honour the treaty, but it would also be a chance at redemption for the tribe.

Prior to the signing of the treaty the landscape of Kirikiriroa Hamilton was mainly occupied by swamp, but there were a group of Pā sites plotted around Kirikiriroa Hamilton where his ancestors roamed.

“They were a progressive people,” Puke said.

Since the signing of the document, however, Puke said his people have been fighting to have their history recognised across the city.

He was supportive of people “coming together” to learn about the history of Kirikiririoa.

Whether it was through cultural events, speeches or sports activities “there’s plenty of scope to celebrate”.

“There’s still unfinished business…I think it’s a great idea as long as we have the history in the background.”

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said the city had always had some kind of event to commemorate Te Tiriti o Waitangi, but due to Covid 19 more recent events have been reduced.

“This year we’re holding our own commemorative event, a Waitangi festival hosted by Waikato museum,” she said.

But there could be conversations around the council table at some point this year, Southgate said and she imagined it would involve Waitangi celebrations.

In the past Hamilton had seen accommodation shortages with large-scale events such as the HSBC Sevens tournament but she said “they worked out fine”.

With more hotels planned in the city that would benefit hosting crowds as well, she said.

““If we partner with community, iwi and wider parties then the event just gets bigger and better…Māori are holders of some fantastic storytelling, they can teach us some really interesting aspects of their culture and I think people will come away feeling good.”

Waitangi celebrations recommenced in 2023 with Waikato Museum hosting a free event on Monday, February 6 with live music, Kapa Haka, and film screenings to mark the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

It came after three years of scaled back events and cancellations, due to Covid 19.

Newly appointed representative for Hamilton West and National MP, Tama Potaka, said conversations around the treaty and the country’s history were “topical” given the introduction of New Zealand history being taught in schools.

But a decent civic event of scale in Hamilton would certainly require council liaising with tangata whenua.

“I think it’s really important to identify key events in New Zealand’s society and the Treaty of Waitangi is a foundation document of our country and our constitutional arrangements,” he said.

A civic celebration could encompass all the aspects of Te Whare Tapa Whā he said when it came to physical, spiritual, cultural and social activities.

“It would be imprudent to try and convene a celebration around Waitangi Day without liaising with other iwi and making sure iwi were at the heart of the partnership.”

Outgoing Labour MP Jamie Strange had visited the Waitangi treaty grounds several times as a working politician.

He felt a Hamilton Waitangi anniversary event was something that “should be explored,” in Hamilton but avoiding the politically charged atmosphere showcased at the traditional gatherings would be his preference.

“I think it’s time to have that discussion with the community…[Waitangi event] could potentially add value,” Strange said.

He would want to see a range of activities, public talks and kai available if the large-scale event happened.

“There has been an event held over the past few years by the western community centre and I thought that was run well…I very much see it as a celebration of the partnership that we have between tangata whenua and non-Māori.”

Vanessa Williams from the Hamilton Central Business Association felt marking the anniversary with a civic event “definitely has merit”.

“Waitangi weekend, it would make sense to bring that to the floor for the public and actually create a big event around it particularly with all that we have with our cultural heritage being here…I think it would be amazing,” Williams said.

“We’ve got a lot of heritage around the signing of the treaty and the Kiingitanga being here too, so I would love to see some of that historical element brought into it so people would have a better understanding of why we celebrate Waitangi.”

Throughout the long weekend Hamilton Gardens hosted free guided tours of Te Parapara, New Zealand’s only traditional Māori productive garden and Hamilton Zoo held live music throughout the day.