Waitangi Day 2012 is set to be filled with colourful events around the country thanks to community funding made available through Manatū Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund supports community events that celebrate New Zealand’s identity by commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Applications are now being accepted from groups wanting to host local Waitangi Day celebrations; projects run in partnership between local authorities, community groups and tangata whenua are particularly encouraged.
This year the Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund gave communities the chance to host large kai festivals, marae open days, workshops, and public performances, helping to build ties between local and national celebrations. Manatū Taonga is now seeking applications for 2012. Good examples of creative community programmes during this year’s Waitangi festivities are the Chatham Community Focus Trust which hosted a picnic and whanau focused day and the New Zealand Tamil Senior Citizens Association of Auckland which ran an evening programme with a guest speaker and cultural performances.
The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund grants average around $3000.
The Fund closes to applications for funding at 5pm on 23 September 2011. The fund is administered by Manatū Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage, PO Box 5364, Wellington 6145. More information is available on the Ministry’s website www.mch.govt.nz by calling 04 499 4229 or by emailing ashley.mackenzie-white@mch.govt.nz
