Feb 6 - Waitangi day

All this began in 1840 when the British authorities proposed a treaty to the dozens of Maori tribes living in NZ... and they still celebrate that specific agreement today. There is a lot of talk about the English and Maori versions of the document... so keep it simple: it's the base of NZ constitution and an agreement for British settlements in Aoteaora (NZ).

 War canoes arriving on Waitangi beach

 Ass tattoo...

 Young people are learning secular traditions

 and performing the traditional Haka dance.

All dances are started by a guy blowing into a huge shell producing a horn sound (the one on the right foreground).

Detail of a Marae (Maori meeting house) column with our little T'choupi playing in that mouth ;-)

There is also a huge festival where you can buy jewelry, T-shirts, deep double fried food, ice-cream in watermelons... and so on. I found only one tent selling this delicious "beef and veggies meal on a leaf" (It has no real name "What you see is what you get" said the lady!) .

Philip asked for a 'moko' - traditional tattoo which meaning is more important than final look or shape.

The final result is purely amazing: it is full of details and the shades of grey (not typical maori) are matching older tattoo on his shoulder. And the chef was back on duty for a huge BBQ in the evening.

When you see this...

...you feel like back in 1840.

This is my favorite picture! You can see the very first NZ flag that was designed with the advice of numerous Maori tribes at the beginning of 19th century.