Waitangi Park, Wellington waterfront, Saturday 6, February 2016
This Waitangi Day in Wellington there’ll be activities for everyone at Waitangi Park including a waka fleet exhibition, Te Aro Pā walking tours, weaving and fashion shows, waka building, Māori myths and legends storytelling, and kapa haka. Grove Roots have been playing since 2005 with five strong performances at the Parihaka Peace Festival and they plan on delivering a special performance at Te Rā o Waitangi.
Their singer Sianne Dougherty made a massive impact at the Meridian Gardens Magic with her Summer City performance at the Soundshell. 2015 X Factor winner Beau Monga will be playing as well as his mum and dad Betty Anne and Ryan Monga who are founding members of the legendary Ardijah. The Monga whānau are heading to Wellington for Te Rā o Waitangi. Audiences can expect the beatboxing and vocal percussion Beau is known for, as well as the soulful reggae-infused hits that have made Ardijah iconic. Actor and award-winning playwright Jamie MacAskill will add another string to his prodigious bow, leading the inaugural performance of brand-new Māori showband The Māori Sidesteps. Here’s the programme of the day’s events.
| 12noon | Official Opening and mana whenua welcome |
| Mayor Celia Wade-Brown | |
| Taranaki whanui kapahaka | |
| Ngā Maramara o Taranaki | |
| 12.30pm–12.45pm | MC Frankie Stevens |
| 12.45pm–1.05pm | Ngāti Pōneke Young Māori Club Kapahaka |
| 1.10pm–1.25pm | Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna |
| 1.30pm–1.40pm | SH’BAM Bodystep with Sione Siale |
| 2pm–3pm | Grove Roots featuring Sianne |
| 3.15pm–3.45pm | Beau Monga |
| 4.15pm–5.15pm | Ardijah |
| 5.35pm–5.50pm | The Maori Sidesteps |
| 6pm | Karakia whakamutunga |
Grove Roots set at Meridian Gardens Magic was, well … magic!
Sianne Dougherty Live at Walter Nash Opening 2015