Kāi Tahu announced last month it would take this year’s te Tiriti o Waitangi commemorations to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds instead of holding its annual Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival, which Ōtākou was due to host.
As such, Ōtākou led a wider Ngāi Tahu group north under a banner of kotahitaka, or unity, between iwi.
Ngāti Rāhiri and Ngāti Kawa welcomed the group to Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae with a pōwhiri on Thursday.
Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison said the occasion was moving — particularly to be with the people of the place where te Tiriti was signed and He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni [the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand] was formulated.
"We were well received and it was special for us to be in that setting," Mr Ellison said.
"In part of our koha, we gave a mere, named it Te Taki Haruru, which is the name of the beach where the Treaty landed at Otago for signing.
Speakers during yesterday’s karakia and dawn service were inspiring, he said.
"The whole day [yesterday] is just amazing. So many things to do for so many people who are here. And food galore.
"It’s been a celebration."
Hapū members also attended the Iwi Chairs Forum, which included a process of uplifting mauri ahead of the next meeting in Queenstown, Kāi Tahu territory, Mr Ellison said.
"There’s been a lot to do and to keep the whole kaupapa moving forward under the kotahitaka banner," he said.
"So people have put the energy in and put their shoulders to the wheel and it’s gone very, very well."
