Home / Exhibitions + Events

Waitangi Day Festival 2024

6 February 2024

10am to 5pm

Free entry

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

Note: Entry to Waikato Museum is free. Charges apply for entry to Exscite and for attending Lissy and Rudi's talk.

UPDATED SCHEDULE

Unfortunately Wikitoria won’t be able to join us for the uku workshop so we’ll be doing more crafting instead - making fluffy pom-poms and crocheting whetuu (star shapes).

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 whetuu (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.

1.30pm – Crafty wool creations

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, book online now.