Wiremu Keretene (Ngāti Hine) holds a sleeping child during the waka display at Tii Beach this morning. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
A dawn ceremony marked the beginning of Waitangi Day commemorations at Te Whare Rūnanga Marae on the upper Treaty grounds.
Events were also held throughout the country, with hundreds of people expected at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa - Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon were among them.
The Waitangi Day commemorations included a flag raising ceremony and the traditional waka parade.
Here's some of the day's highlights, captured in pictures:
Waitangi day Hikoi
The Hikoi in Wellington. Photo: RNZ/Emma Andrews
Photo: RNZ/Emma Andrews
Hīkoi arrives on Waitangi Day 2025. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Hīkoi arrives on Waitangi Day 2025. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Hikoi moving through the streets of Wellington. Photo: RNZ/Emma Andrews
Hīkoi arrives on Waitangi Day 2025. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Prime Minister arriving at Ōnuku Marae
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is welcomed on to Ōnuku marae. Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon are among the hundreds of people expected at Ōnuku Marae . Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer
Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
The Prime Minister being welcome onto the Marae. Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer
Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Onuku Marae ahead of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's arrival. Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer
Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Waitangi Day at Onuku Marae 2025. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Kaihoe at Waitangi
Tamariki, Raupatu Hetaraka from Ngāti Kahu watching the kaihoe at Waitangi Day 2025. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Wiremu Keretene (Ngāti Hine) holds a sleeping child during the waka display at Tii Beach this morning. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
A waka passes Tii Beach during this morning's display. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Abenzar Wichman and Tearii Kupa-Wichman, of Whangārei, and Joey Rapana, of Kawakawa, represent the Cook Islands during this morning's waka display and mass haka. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
The kaihoe arrives. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
The waka hitting the water. Photo: RNZ/Layla Bailey-McDowell
Photo: RNZ/Layla Bailey-McDowell
Photo: RNZ/Layla Bailey-McDowell
Photo: RNZ/Layla Bailey-McDowell
Waitangi Day commemorations will also include a flag raising ceremony. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Kandyss Hetaraka from Whangaruru. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Kaihoe at Waitangi Day 2025. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
A mass haka breaks out on the beach. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Kaihoe arriving at low tide. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Great waka returns to Hobson Bay
The waka Mātaatua is pulled from the water, to be returned to its whare for another year. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf
Hātea kapa haka
The award winning cultural group, from Peehiaaweri Marae, near Whangaarei, performed to a crowd of hundreds under a sweltering sun. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf
The Dawn Ceremony
Dawn ceremony. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Māori wardens at the dawn service. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Photo: RNZ
Hundreds at the dawn ceremony. Photo: RNZ
Photo: RNZ
Photo: RNZ
New Zealand politicians at the ceremony. Photo: RNZ
Photo: RNZ
Photo: RNZ
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