Waitangi Day Celebrations in Ipswich were marked with culture and connection over the weekend, as hundreds gathered in the city centre to celebrate Māori identity and Indigenous solidarity.
The event was hosted by Wiser Pasifika Communities and supported by Ipswich City Council, featuring performances, stalls and family-friendly activities throughout the day.
Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, considered the founding document of New Zealand and a central moment in the relationship between Māori and the Crown.
This year's event opened with a pōwhiri (traditional Māori welcoming ceremony) and a Welcome to Country from Yuggera man Aaron Ruska, grounding the gathering in Indigenous protocol and shared respect.
Wiser Pasifika Communities director Maria Tafili said the cultural exchange between Māori, Pasifika and First Nations people was a powerful expression of unity.
"You feel the wairua (spirit) here is so strong, especially during our pōwhiri," Ms Tafili said.
"We had that Indigenous Welcome to Country which just really solidified our belonging and our partnership with our Indigenous whānau here.
"We're grateful as a Pasifika and Māori community to merge, because that's really what Waitangi is about; remembering, partnerships... you get better and you get stronger."
The event featured around 50 stallholders offering a mix of Māori and Pasifika food, drinks, clothing and cultural artefacts.
A dedicated healing space, children's village and weaving areas also created space for intergenerational engagement.
Lara Tukaroa, a Cook Islander woman and emcee of the event, said it was a day to highlight Māori excellence in business and community leadership.
"Today we get to celebrate all different aspects of our culture, of Māori culture," Ms Tukaroa said.
"We've got a space for Tamariki (children), and we've also got weavers and then we've got a whole lot of food stores.
"I'm proud to say that 80 per cent of today is driven by Māori-owned businesses from in and around Ipswich and Brisbane City."
A standout of the day was the fashion show curated by designer and weaver Naveena Kitto, showcasing traditional fibre artistry and clothing worn by community members of all ages.
Ms Kitto reflected on the show as a moment of cultural pride and Indigenous solidarity.
"I'm a weaver and love sharing our stories with our people and bringing our whānau together to showcase being proud to be Māori here in Australia," Ms Kitto said.
"We had Indigenous, we had Torres Strait Islander and Māori together on the platform.
"It was just amazing to be a part of something so great like that."
The event was both a celebration of Māori identity and a space for connection across cultures, with organisers emphasising the importance of continuing that spirit throughout the year.
