Waitangi Day celebrations in NZ

New Zealand will be celebrating Waitangi Day next week with a record-breaking fleet of waka, a ceremonial Maori canoe.

The celebration in New Zealand's Bay of Islands on February 6th, will also mark 2010 as the Year of the Waka; to mark the restoration of the huge Waitangi war canoe Ngatoki-mata-whao-rua, which holds the Guinness Book of Records title for the largest waka in the world.

Powered by 76 paddlers Ngatoki-mata-whao-rua will lead the flotilla of more than 30 waka in a huge national celebration signifying the 170th anniversary of the signing of the nation's formative treaty.

Organisers say the aim is to exceed the record number of 23 craft which was set in 1990 for the 150th anniversary celebrations attended by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. A crowd of over 50,000 are expected to descend on Waitangi for the event.

In addition to the waka, gathering visitors will also be treated to the Royal New Zealand Navy's 21-gun salute and the impressive Beat Retreat at Ceremonial Sunset. There will also be beachfront concerts, performances from local cultural groups and sports and games.

Every year on February 6th, the focus of the nation of New Zealand centres on the Waitangi Treaty grounds to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document.

Travelbite.co.uk staff

Follow us @travelbite