Waitangi Day Festival At Waikato Museum

Bring the family along and join us to commemorate Waitangi Day with art, music, and free workshops on Tuesday 6 February 2024.

Schedule

10am – Crafty wool creations
Feeling inspired to get crafty? Many of the kaimahi (staff) at Waikato Museum have been learning how to crochet since the arrival of ‘Wharenui Harikoa’. This drop-in session is a space to get creative with us and make fluffy pompoms or crochet a whetu (star shape). Share your skills or learn something new! Free.

12.30pm – ‘Pīpī Paopao’ by Rutene Spooner
Pīpī Paopao is a performance for young children and their whaanau, singing the stories and birdsong of manu rangatira (noble birdlife). Rutene Spooner, musical and cabaret performer extraordinaire, employs the Maaori traditions of using proverbs and metaphors of the natural world to teach and prepare tamariki so they too may flourish.
Recommended for ages 3-5. Free.

2pm – Uku/clay workshop
Lead by artist Wikitoria Tahukaraina-Simon, this workshop will have you hands-on with clay. This natural material sourced from Papatuuaanuku (the Earth Mother) gives the opportunity to experiment with creativity and connection. Enjoy the tactile experience of sculpting with uku to create small objects to take home with you.
Limited spaces, please arrive promptly to secure your place in this workshop. Free.

3pm – Live music
Time to kanikani! A line-up of amazing local musicians will take the stage to perform live music, from traditional waiata to contemporary favourites. Including performances by Tīpene Clarke, Kahurangi Heta, and Adam Whauwhau. Free.

4pm – Lissy & Rudi: Haerenga ki Harikoa | Journey to Joy
‘Wharenui Harikoa’ is the spectacular creation of husband-and-wife duo Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole, resulting from years of collaborative work and 5,000 balls of yarn. Come along to hear their love story and celebrate the kaupapa of manifesting intergenerational healing and deeply felt joy. This intimate conversation will be held in the Waikato Museum lecture theatre.
$25 per person, tickets on sale soon.