May 03, 2018
Waka on Waikato for Kingitanga 160 fiesta
160 waka of all descriptions will be on the Waikato River at Ngaruawhia this weekend for K160, a two-day festival to launch a year of celebrations marking the 160th anniversary of the Kingitanga.
Spokesperson Rahui Papa says a karakia was held yesterday at the site in Ngaruawahia where Potatau Te Wherowhero was consecrated at the first Maori king.
He says the movement was built by using whakapapa links to bring people together in kotahitanga to achieve common goals.
He says the K160 will bring together rangatahi and kaumatua through kapa haka, music, food, cluture, and of course the waka.
"There's going to be waka taua, waka ama, people in their personal waka. It's going to be a signature event looking at what our tupuna used to do 160 years ago. The river was the highway, the route of trade. Jusat reconnecting with that is going to be absolutely fantastic," Mr Papa says.
The year is also a chance for Waikato Tainui and Kingitanga to look at the 160 years ahead.
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