Photo by Joe Dodgshun.
The Queenstown Gardens came to life yesterday afternoon
with hundreds of people lounging on the grass in the sun during
the resort's first official Waitangi Day celebrations.
During previous years on February 6 - also Bob Marley's
birthday - the Homelands and Reggae in the Park concerts had
been held, but a $2000 grant from the Ministry of Culture and
Heritage allowed the Queenstown Lakes District Council to run
the inaugural event.
Queenstown bands played from the gardens rotunda and a kapa
haka performance, flax-weaving and a hangi rounded out the
celebrations.
QLDC arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell said everyone
she had spoken to wanted it to return next year and would
"definitely like to see something similar happening in
Wanaka".
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