Waitangi week 2026 in pictures

2026-02-06 - 01:38

This week marked 186 years since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi. Every year, Waitangi hosts several days of commemorations and celebrations, welcoming diplomatic visitors, representatives from local government, the legal system and, of course, the politicians. Waitangi Day itself is different, and separate. The politics are put aside (in theory). A dawn ceremony is held at both the upper and lower marae. Up top, the main ceremony, karakia are read by dignitaries and ministers of religion as the public watches on, before the flag is raised on the Waitangi flagpole. At Te Tii Marae (called the lower marae, but in truth the only marae at Waitangi), participants read out the names of their tūpuna who signed Te Tiriti on this day nearly two centuries ago. After the ceremonies wrap up, the fun begins. A festival, replete with market stalls, bouncy castles and musical perfomances, springs up at the Treaty Grounds. Perhaps the highlight of the day is the annual paddling of the great waka Ngātokimatawhaorua and the ensuing haka. Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Wednesday. Photo: Marc Daalder The haka during the pōwhiri for local government and judiciary representatives on Wednesday. Photo: Marc Daalder Te Whare Rūnanga on Wednesday, prepared for the political pōwhiri the next day. Photo: Marc Daalder Preparations for the haka before the political pōwhiri on Thursday. Photo: Marc Daalder Wāhine prepare for the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Preparations for the haka. Photo: Marc Daalder A haka opens the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder The haka. Photo: Marc Daalder The haka. Photo: Marc Daalder The haka. Photo: Marc Daalder Winston Peters, Christopher Luxon and others approach Te Whare Rūnanga. Photo: Marc Daalder Wāhine after the opening haka of the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Wāhine after the opening haka. Photo: Marc Daalder A member of the public watches the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Mutunga Rameka, the opening speaker during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Tama Potaka, Christopher Luxon, Winston Peters, David Seymour and Gerry Brownlee listen on during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Peeni Henare, Chris Hipkins and Willie Jackson confer. Photo: Marc Daalder Eru Kapa-Kingi speaks during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder A small protest during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Peeni Henare speaks during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Winston Peters, David Seymour and Gerry Brownlee listen during the pōwhiri. Protest signs during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder Protest signs during the pōwhiri. Photo: Marc Daalder The dawn ceremony opens on Friday morning at 5am. Photo: Marc Daalder Waitangi flagpole as the sun rises. Photo: Marc Daalder Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro watches the ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann, David Seymour and Shane Reti watch the dawn ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder The public watches the dawn ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder The public watches the dawn ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder A man watches the sunrise from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Photo: Marc Daalder NZDF members watch the dawn ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder The sun rises over the Bay of Islands. Photo: Marc Daalder. NZ Navy sailors raise the flag after the conclusion of the dawn ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder A bagpiper plays while the flag is raised. Photo: Marc Daalder Far North Mayor Moko Tepania distributes water after the ceremony. Photo: Marc Daalder Ngātokimatawhaorua approaches the shore. Photo: Marc Daalder Ngātokimatawhaorua approaches the shore. Photo: Marc Daalder Kaihoe prepare for haka. Photo: Marc Daalder Kaihoe prepare for haka. Photo: Marc Daalder A kaihoe rests ahead of the start of the haka. Photo: Marc Daalder