NEWS: Waitangi Festival Confirmed

The Waitangi Day festival is back in the Taupō District for 2016 with popular contemporary Maori artist Maisey Rika headlining the event.

Singer and songwriter Rika's music is in both English and Māori, and she will be joined on the stage by East Coast artist Rob Ruha. The pair will be supported by an impressive line-up of local artists including Turangi's Aaron Moeke, Mangakino's Daniel Trueman and Taupō's Michaela Pointon and Tegan McConachie. There will also be kapa haka and other cultural groups performing.

The festival will be held from noon to 5pm on Saturday, February 6 at Tongariro Domain. The day will also feature children's inflatables, food stalls, competitions, prizes, arts and crafts exhibitions and a dedicated wood skills and processing arena.

Taupō District Council strategic relationships manager Dominic Bowden said he was looking forward to the festival and hoped there would be great support for the Waitangi Day celebrations.

"We are looking forward to hosting the event, which always sees thousands of people coming along to enjoy the entertainment, games and music," he said. "We really want to encourage people from every corner of our district to come along to celebrate our national day."

In the past over 4500 people have attended, including large contingents from Turangi and Mangakino. Free buses to and from the event will operate from these centres. Numbers are limited and those interested must register at the Turangi and Mangakino service centres.

Taupō District Council is working alongside sponsors Ministry of Culture and Heritage, BayTrust, First Sovereign Trust, Tūwharetoa Maori Trust Board, Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust, Lake Taupō Forest Trust, Ngati Tūwharetoa Fisheries Charitable Trust, Mighty River Power, Contact Energy, Taupō District Creative Communities Scheme and Creative Taupō to ensure the festival is free to attend.