Press Release - 6 January 2000

Waitangi Day Celebrations ('One Love NZ' Day)

6 February 2000, 11.00 am - Okahu Bay, Auckland

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Happy New Year! Now that the clock has ticked over into the new millennium, it's time for New Zealanders to examine deeper issues affecting their country.

Racial harmony, multiculturalism and the country's 'Maori' branding have often been touted by the government, tourism industry and advertisers as things which makes us unique.

To celebrate this uniqueness, Ngati Whatua is hosting an event at Okahu Bay on Waitangi Day to commemorate New Zealand's identity.

Called the 'One Love NZ' Day, the event is a joint venture between Waiata Artists Trust and Catalyst Trust. Organisers say the day will be similar to a carnival, with stalls, arts, crafts, live music and canoe making demonstrations within the beautiful grounds of Okahu Bay. Shortland Street's Shimpaal Lelisi will also be putting in an appearance, as well as reggae singer Tigilau Ness, father of singer Che Fu.

It will also incorporate the annual 'One Love' concert which commemorates reggae singer Bob Marley's birthday on 6 February. Greens MP Nandor Tanzos is a veteran organizer of the event and will help co-ordinate the concert though in a lesser role because of his parliamentary commitments.

The Auckland Waitangi Day events have been run by Waiata Artists for the past four years, but it's the first time they've officially joined forces with Ngati Whatua and Catalyst Trust ('One Love' concert organisers). Waiata Artists are the first Waitangi Celebration organisers to webcast Waitangi events live on the internet (since 1997). Information about this event can be found at www.pasifika.net or www.webworkshop.co.nz/waitangi.

In previous years, Waiata Artists' Waitangi Day events have included church services at St Matthews in the City and presentations of the 'Aotearoa Awards' to notable New Zealanders such as Labour's John Tamihere, sportsmen Barry McGee, Graham Norton and Mark Cooksley, Access Radio in Auckland and the tv programme 'Asia Dynamic'.

These events will be repeated again this year as well as a service at Mt Roskill's Wesley Church and a poetry night at a café in Karangahape Rd.

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For more information contact:

Alec Hawke ph (09) 3776347

Will Ilolahia ph (09) 6290826

Waiata Office ph (09) 377 6347

Email: waiata@webworkshop.co.nz

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