Join us live for Waitangi Day 2025, showcasing the dawn service at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the early morning.
Later, once the sun has risen we will witness the waka parade.
It has been a busy few days at Te Papa Whenua o Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
On Monday, Hundreds of manuhiri were welcomed onto Te Tiriti o Waitangi marae for the reopening of its wharenui.
Karakia, takutaku, and waerea were recited at Tau Rangatira to kick off the morning, with Ngāti Whātua, Taranaki, and others invited to participate.
Day two saw the Kiingitanga arrive at the Treaty Grounds marking the first Waitangi celebration attended by Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō since becoming the new Kuini, following the passing of her late father, Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, in late August last year.
On Wednesday, members of Parliament were welcomed onto the marae at the Treaty Grounds. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was absent but his coalition partners were present.
There was a ‘pōhuri’ (a wordplay on pōhiri) where people turned their backs against the coalition government in protest, including pae members during David Seymour’s speech. Aperahama Edwards took away Seymour’s microphone and it was returned by respected elder of Ngāti Hine, Waihoroi Shortland.
Today, Luxon is expected to address the nation at 10:30 AM from Akaroa, where he is being hosted by Ngāi Tahu.
10.10 AM
That concludes our Waitangi Day 2025 coverage, presented by Te Ao Māori News in partnership with Aukaha News, Tahu News, Te Reo o te Uru, and our affiliated iwi stations.
9.55 am
Watch the full haka performed by the kaihoe before the waka parade.
9:50 AM
Margaret Mutu has long been at the forefront of challenging the Crown’s intepretation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Now there is a growing call for constitutional transformation led by Māori and Blake Ihimaera asked Mutu what a tiriti-based future would look like.
“It would look like the dream that our tupuna had when they signed te tiriti,” Mutu said.
“Once we allowed the Queen of England to come in and keep control of her lawless citizens, then we could all live together in peace and harmony... We would remain as we have always been, the Indigenous people of the land and therefore totally responsible for it.”
9.46 AM
9.38 AM
The waka parade begins in front of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae, following a haka performed by the kaihoe.
9.10 AM
Over a thousand spectators and kaihoe gathered, eagerly awaiting the start of the waka parade.
9:00 AM
800 kaihoe are preparing for the waka parade. Kaihautu Joe Conrad said to practice the kaihoe must leave at high tide but this week the high tides have been at 2:30 AM which has meant eating breakfast at 11PM.
8:55 AM
Musician Te Reotakiwa Dunn sang He Rangi Ataahua live at Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Dunn has recently moved back to Te Tai Tokerau and says he will be focused on kapa haka in the compositional space, getting involved with his iwi and producing high quality waiata for whānau and those to come.
8.45 AM
Watch the visual highlights from this morning’s dawn ceremony.
8.40 AM
Aukaha News reporter Te Kawa Paora spoke with Te Arepa Mōrehu, a kaihoe of Te Kawau.
“Tino pai rawa atu ki ahau, noho haumaru atu rā ki te wāhi e noho ana ngā kaihoe, tino pai tērā wāhi. [Ko] te whakawhanaungatanga, ngā waka e tau nei ki Pēwhairangi, hei tā mātou, nā whakarite mātou i a mātou anō, i te mea i hoki mai a Te Kawau i Barcelona, i tērā marama. Nā konā ka hanga whakaharatau, [tō] mātou wāhi whakaharatau, kātahi kua tae mai i tēnei wiki i raro i te haumarutanga o te haukāinga, o te ahika o Waitangi nei. Nōreira mīharo katoa.”
8.15 AM
Kua hoki anō a Tame Iti ki te papa o Waitangi i tēnei tau.
I kōrero atu a Reagan Paranihi ki te ruānuku o te ao Māori, ki a Tame Iti mō te take ka hoki atu ia ki Waitangi i tēnei tau.
Ko te mahi toi, ko te whakapātaritari whakaaro anō hoki ngā mahi a Iti i tēnei rā.
Hai tāna ko te wānangananga i tēnei mea te ‘pokokōhua’ te kai o te rā nei.
8 AM
Newsbreak coverage of the events around the Waitangi Treaty Grounds begins, presented by Te Ao Māori News in partnership with Aukaha News, Tahu News, Te Reo o te Uru, and our affiliated iwi stations.
To continue watching Te Māngai Pāho coverage and Waitangi programming, tune in to Māori+.
7.55 AM
Ngā waka preparing for 8:30 AM Waka Parade in front of Te Tiriti O Waitangi Marae.
7 AM
Voice Australia finalist and Moana reo Māori voice actress Jaedyn Randell performed the national anthem as the sun began to rise in the early morning.
6.18 AM
Politicians speak at the Waitangi Day Dawn Ceremony during karakia.
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, National MP Shane Reti, and Act Leader David Seymour spoke.
6.06 AM
Te Aroha Rountree, President of the Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, likened the recent Treaty Principles Bill to a divorce between a couple.
“To renegotiate the terms of a marriage, usually requires both spouses to be at the tēpu, but it seems our spouse - the Crown - has filed for divorce while we were blissfully unaware,” she said in front of the creator of the bill, David seymour.
5.38 AM
Watch as hundreds at the Waitangi Day Dawn Ceremony perform ‘Tuhia’ following the first karakia.
5.00 AM
The official Waitangi Day Dawn Karakia has begun.
4.50 AM
Ata mārie, nau mai ki ngā kōrero arorangi o te wā atu i Te Papa Whenua o Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Follow us here with live updates as we bring you coverage from Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
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