Source: Auckland Council
Waitangi ki Manukau 2025: Exploring the Treaty, culture and music for Te Tiriti o Waitangi with headliners Dam Native, MAJIC, and Jordyn with a Why.
Get ready for a show-stopping, free, community celebration at Waitangi ki Manukau 2025, taking place on Thursday 6 February 2025, at Barry Curtis Park.
Hosted by Auckland Council, join us for a fantastic day that honours the 185th anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, packed with music and rich cultural experiences within te ao Māori (the Māori world). This whānau-friendly event in the heart of Manukau is a fun and significant way to celebrate what Waitangi Day means for us all today.
Waitangi ki Manukau 2025: Te Tūhura i te Tiriti, te ahurea me te puoro mō Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, ko ngā kaiwhakangahau matua, ko Dam Native, ko MAJIC, ko Jordyn with a Why hoki.
Kia rite ki te whai wāhi ki tētahi whakanui mā te hapori e whakamīharo ana, e utu kore ana hoki, e tū rā ki Waitangi ki Manukau 2025, hei a Tāite te 6 o Pēpuere 2025, ki Barry Curtis Park.
Piri mai ki tētahi kaupapa rawe e whakatūria ana e Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau hei whakamaharatanga ki te huritau 185 mai i te hainatanga o Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, ka pāorooro te puoro, ka rangona hoki te pārekareka o te ahurea i te ao Māori. He ara ngahau, he ara tāpua hoki tēnei kaupapa pai mā te whānau hei whakanui i te rā o Waitangi me tōna hiranga ki a tātou katoa i tēnei wā.
This year’s theme, ‘Te Tiriti ki Tāmaki Makaurau’, commemorates the historical importance of Manukau as a site where treaty signings took place, and will provide a space to reflect on the ongoing relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its role in shaping Aotearoa.
Cr Alf Filipaina sees this event as a powerful reminder of the historical significance, unity, and future aspirations Te Tiriti o Waitangi offers Aucklanders.
“Waitangi ki Manukau 2025 is a commemoration for all, showcasing the rich diversity of Auckland communities through music, cultural experiences, and time with whānau,” Cr Filipaina says.
“Auckland Council is committed to celebrating Māori identity, history and culture as Auckland’s unique point of difference in the world. This event highlights how through Te Tiriti o Waitangi, when Māori thrive, we all thrive in Tāmaki Makaurau.”
The musical lineup is a standout of the event, with headline performances from Dam Native, MAJIC, Jordyn with a Why, MOHI and Tipene each bringing their own unique flavour to the stage. In addition to these incredible headliners, the event will feature Valkyrie, bringing their indie rock edge to the lineup, and award-winning NLC, delivering fresh, dynamic energy with their reggae fusion. From hip hop to R&B to indie rock, the musical diversity on display at Waitangi ki Manukau will reflect the vibrant mix of cultures welcome in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland Council’s Māori Culture and Identity Programme Lead Melz Huata-Lucas says that while the lineup of artists will help to create a stirring, unified atmosphere through the expression of music, this year’s commemoration of Waitangi Day will be so much more than just music.
“This year’s Waitangi ki Manukau event will embrace culture and community and the remembrance of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi – the significance for Māori, in particular, iwi Māori from Tāmaki Makaurau, and the impact of the treaty on this region and on our society as a whole, ever since the signing,” Miss Huata-Lucas says.
The day’s events will begin with a karakia, setting a tone of reverence and unity, before the powerful lineup of performances and activities fills the day.
Learning opportunities focusing on Te Tiriti o Waitangi will also be at the forefront, allowing attendees to dive deeper into the historical and cultural significance of the Treaty as an important, living document. The Waitangi Village will offer interactive activities, including weaving workshops and kōrero, designed to foster understanding from both Māori and Pacific cultures.
The festival will also feature a curated market with Māori arts and crafts, and kai stalls showcasing a delicious fusion of Māori and international flavours. A special area for children’s activities including face painting and poi making will ensure that tamariki have a fun and educational experience of their own.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday 6 February, 2025
Time: 10 AM to 4 PM
Location: Barry Curtis Park, 163 Chapel Road, Flat Bush, Auckland
Cost: Free
Artist line-up
- Dam Native, groundbreaking 90s hip hop group, will captivate audiences with powerful storytelling and dynamic urban beats, blending ancestral pride with contemporary Māori experience to speak to social issues and inspire the next generation.
- MAJIC has quickly gained attention for her distinctive style which combines reggae-roots with waiata Māori. A Waiata Maori Music Award winner for top artist, MAJIC crafts her soulful music to inspire her iwi and provide a positive example for her tamariki.
- Jordyn with a Why, an up-and-coming star in the Aotearoa R&B scene, will mesmerise attendees with her emotive voice and soulful melodies, inspiring audiences through her unyielding spirit of Māori reclamation.
- MOHI, with his smooth-groove blend of traditional Māori sounds and soulful-jazz styles, will offer an intimate connection to te ao Māori, inspiring listeners to find their own meaning within the story.
- Tipene is a hip-hop artist from Hawkes Bay known for blending Māori culture with contemporary rap. His music often highlights social issues, personal stories, and cultural pride, recognising him as one of Aotearoa’s leading bilingual artists.
Presented by Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Council.
Supported by Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Hustle Management, Flava, Radio Waatea, Auckland City of Music and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Follow the Facebook page for updates on stage performance times.
For more information, please visit ourauckland.nz/waitangiday.
ENDS
