{"id":270961,"date":"2026-02-06T17:08:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/270961\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T17:08:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:08:35","slug":"waitangi-day-2026-in-pictures-the-waka-kapa-haka-and-crowds-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/270961\/","title":{"rendered":"Waitangi Day 2026 in pictures: the waka, kapa haka and crowds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMZBX_Image_14_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"699\" alt=\"Waka arrive at Waitangi.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nThis year&#8217;s Waitangi commemorations have provided a platform for many diverse voices, for togetherness and disagreement, and for culture, fun and getting out into the sun.<br \/>\nPhoto: Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p>After the Waitangi Day Festival dawn service at Te Whare R\u016bnanga &#8211; the Treaty Grounds, in the Bay of Islands, people lined the beach in front of Te Tii Marae and the Waitangi Bridge to watch the arrival of the waka flotilla.<\/p>\n<p>Organisers prepared for some 700 kaihoe (waka paddlers) to make their way under the Waitangi Bridge to Te Tii Marae, led by the massive Waka Ng\u0101tokimatawhaorua.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMT4J_Image_20_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day is marked at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nCrowds awaiting the arrival of the parade of waka.<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN3AM_Image_12_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"Waitangi Day 2026, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN3AM_Image_7_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"Bosco - known famously in Paihia as the \u2018surfer dog\u2019 - has made an appearance at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nBut first, a cameo by Bosco, known in Pahia as &#8220;the surfing dog&#8221;<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN3AM_Image_5_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"Bosco - known famously in Paihia as the \u2018surfer dog\u2019 - has made an appearance at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN3BF_Media_6_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"Waitangi Day 2026, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Giles Dexter\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMZBX_Image_18_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"699\" alt=\"Waka pass under the bridge at Waitangi.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nOrganisers prepared for some 700 paddlers (kaihoe) to paddle under the Waitangi Bridge to Te Tii Marae, led by the massive Waka Ng\u0101tokimatawhaorua.<br \/>\nPhoto: Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMZBX_Image_12_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"Waka arriving at Waitangi.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nThe waka are welcomed at the beach<br \/>\nPhoto: Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMR5R_Image_13_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"A group representing Pacific, M\u0101ori and Aboriginal Australian peoples waited at Te Tii beach to welcome the estimated 700 waka paddlers arriving on Waitangi Morning.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nA group representing Pacific, M\u0101ori and Aboriginal Australian peoples waited at Te Tii beach to welcome the estimated 700 waka paddlers arriving on Waitangi Morning.<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMR5R_Image_14_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"591\" alt=\"A group representing Pacific, M\u0101ori and Aboriginal Australian peoples waited at Te Tii beach to welcome the estimated 700 waka paddlers arriving on Waitangi Morning.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nA multicultural welcome for the waka<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMZBX_Image_17_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"699\" alt=\"Waka arrive at Waitangi.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4PGJOJ2_20150420_085546000_iOS_jpg.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Kaihoe power their way through the moana during the annual waka parade at Te Tii beach.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nKaihoe (waka rowers) power their way through the moana during the annual waka parade at Te Tii beach.<br \/>\nPhoto: Layla Bailey-McDowell \/ RNZ\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMT1K_Image_23_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day is marked at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p>Treaty Grounds officials said about 3000 people attended the dawn service and there were about 35,000 people at the grounds by midday Waitangi Day.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/news\/national\/586102\/waitangi-2026-dawn-service-in-pictures\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Waitangi 2026 dawn service: In pictures<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Albert Cash, kaihaut\u016b of the waka parade, spoke to RNZ just before the waka were launched this morning: &#8220;It&#8217;s exciting, what a beautiful day we&#8217;re blessed with,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>People had come from all corners of Aotearoa to share in the ambience, and honour what the t\u016bpuna signed,&#8221; Cash said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Waka is what&#8217;s brought us together, waka is what brought us across the Pacific.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMT4J_Image_21_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day is marked at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMSKB_Image_28_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"591\" alt=\"Waka arriving at Te Tii Beach, at Waitangi, during commemorations on 6 February 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nThe arrival of kaihoe at Te Tii Beach.<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMSKB_Image_31_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"591\" alt=\"Waka arriving at Te Tii Beach, at Waitangi, during commemorations on 6 February 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMSKB_Image_24_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"591\" alt=\"Waka arriving at Te Tii Beach, at Waitangi, during commemorations on 6 February 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p>Many took a break from the official Waitangi Festival programme with a manu (divebomb) from the Waitangi Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re popping some manus out here today at Waitangi,&#8221; said one of the people lined up to leap from the packed Waitangi Bridge. &#8220;Why? For the culture &#8211; I&#8217;ve got 20 years experience and I&#8217;m kind of used to it,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>It was his first time jumping from Waitangi&#8217;s bridge, &#8220;but I&#8217;m used to the height&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>While popular with children, adults were taking a dive too.<\/p>\n<p>But one adult jumper said they was steering clear of the famed manu slap: &#8220;I backslap &#8211; so I just do a coffin [instead]. It&#8217;s not my first time but it&#8217;s great, I love it,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Jumping was only painful when landing in the water with your thighs, she said.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMNDZ_Media_7_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"Many children and some adults took a break from the official Waitangi Festival programme on 6 February 2026 with a manu from the Waitangi Bridge.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Giles Dexter\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMPVB_Image_26_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"Many children and some adults took a break from the official Waitangi Festival programme on 6 February 2026 with a manu from the Waitangi Bridge.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMPVB_Image_24_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"590\" alt=\"Many children and some adults took a break from the official Waitangi Festival programme on 6 February 2026 with a manu from the Waitangi Bridge.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMPVB_Image_29_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"591\" alt=\"Crowds on the Waitangi Bridge, during the Waitangi Day Festival, on 6 February 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nCrowds on the Waitangi Bridge, during the Waitangi Day Festival.<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This year&#8217;s kaupapa or theme is manaakitanga (hospitality) and M\u014d t\u0101tou, m\u0101 t\u0101tou (by all of us, for all of us),&#8221; the organisers said ahead of the festival, in the programme.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Manaakitanga reflects the importance of caring for others, extending warmth, respect and generosity to all.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;M\u014d t\u0101tou, m\u0101 t\u0101tou reminds us that the future of Aotearoa is something we shape together. It speaks to collective responsibility and shared benefit, a commitment to build a future designed, carried and upheld by all who call this place home.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As we gather to celebrate Waitangi, we invite you to honour these values, fostering an atmosphere of unity, respect and shared purpose.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMYKH_Image_21_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"Mana Mokopuna h\u012bkoi Waitangi Day 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nH\u012bkoi at Waitangi Day<br \/>\nPhoto: Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMZBX_Image_15_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"699\" alt=\"H\u012bkoi at Waitangi Day 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMQKA_Media_6_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"H\u012bkoi at Waitangi, on 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Craig McCulloch\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMYNF_Image_20_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p>The chair of the Waitangi National Trust said Waitangi is a place for all New Zealanders, not just a few.<\/p>\n<p>Tania Simpson said this year&#8217;s theme, &#8216;M\u014d t\u0101tou, m\u0101 t\u0101tou&#8217;, was about the constructing a future together.<\/p>\n<p>She said New Zealanders from all walks of life should be respected.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Whoever is in the conversation about where we&#8217;re going, it needs to be a future for all of us, a future that we can all see ourselves in.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And that doesn&#8217;t mean sameness or homogeneity, it means that we collectively construct something that everybody feels their identity can be respected within.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMQF3_shared_image_12_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"At Waitangi, on 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Craig McCulloch\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMQCL_shared_image_13_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"At Waitangi, on 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Craig McCulloch\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN00V_MP6_jpg.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day is marked at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nKapa Haka<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN01U_MP3_jpg.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day is marked at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTN036_MP4_jpg.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Waitangi Day is marked at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4JTMQCL_shared_image_13_jfif.jpeg\" width=\"1050\" height=\"787\" alt=\"At Waitangi, on 6 February, 2026.\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-captioned__information\">\nMany people made a day of it, enjoying lunch together in the shade of the norfolk pines and p\u014dhutukawa.<br \/>\nPhoto: RNZ\/ Craig McCulloch\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/radionz.us6.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=211a938dcf3e634ba2427dde9&amp;id=b3d362e693\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for Ng\u0101 Pitopito K\u014drero, a daily newsletter<\/a> curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This year&#8217;s Waitangi commemorations have provided a platform for many diverse voices, for togetherness and disagreement, and for&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":270154,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[48,47,111,43,139,69,49,46,44,45],"class_list":{"0":"post-270961","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-audio","9":"tag-current-affairs","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-newzealand","13":"tag-nz","14":"tag-podcasts","15":"tag-public-radio","16":"tag-radio-new-zealand","17":"tag-rnz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270961\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/270154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}