Come and support us as we recruit new paddlers at Waitangi Day & Pacific Island Festival. Information on the event as per below…
***** WAITANGI DAY & PACIFIC ISLAND FESTIVAL – SUNDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2009 *****
The Bond Pirates Rugby Union Club is hosting the hugely successful GOLD COAST WAITANGI DAY & PACIFIC ISLAND FESTIVAL again this year. This is the 6th year this highly successful event has been staged and the event gets bigger and bigger each year. Waitangi Day celebrates the signing of a treaty between the British and a number of North Island Maori chiefs at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands on February 6, 1840. The treaty was subsequently taken around the rest of New Zealand and signed by other Maori leaders. It is commemorated as New Zealand’s national day and is celebrated around the world. The Gold Coast event also celebrates the whole of Pacific Island culture with this event.
Pirates secretary and event manager Randall Cook said the Club hoped that over 12,000 people will attend this year. 9,000 attended the rain affected 2008 event. The event is to be held on Sunday 8th February at the Carrara Sports Fields again this year. The event has outgrown the Pirates’ home grounds at Miami. Gates will open at 10am and a full day of entertainment and activities is scheduled.
Bumbles the Balloon Artist and her clownmobile, face painting fairies and the Pirate Captain, Long John Silver on stilts and will delight the littlies while PONIES PONIES PONIES and Animal Farm will allow the kids to get up close with their furry friends. Several Gold Coast Rugby Clubs will be holding a signon at the grounds and the Bond Pirates Junior development team will be conducting a skills clinic and running fun activities for the kids like the footy kicking competition, open to kids as well as adults. Let’s see if the ladies can outdo the men in this event. There will be gumboot throwing for men, women and kids, in true kiwi fashion. There is “Tackle Central” where the kids can learn some basics of the game and have a heap of fun and some great exercise at the same time. And don’t forget that proceeds from the event raise money for the Bond Pirates Rugby Club and their junior development program. The Clubs most famous graduate is Wallaby Tai McIsaac, and the Clubs counts Sam Norton-Knight and Ben Daley as former Pirate juniors who are now marking their mark on Aussie Rugby. The Club has 4 senior sides, 13 junior sides, and a ‘Golden Oldies’ side for the over 35′s . There isn’t anyone who can’t play for the PIRATES !!
HOT TOMATO will kick off proceedings at 10am with their interactive trailer and direct crosses from the ground. The trailer is a new Hot Tomato promotion and has X box games, DVD’s web cam and giveaways. The on stage entertainment will commence at 11am with the opening of the event and traditional welcome. The entertainment highlight of the day will be performances by South Pacific group ARDIJAH who have a sensational reggae / soul sound and the HERBS, famous for the ‘Slice of Heaven’ song – the defacto kiwi national anthem. Cultural performances will be staged by the Aviki Nui Polynesian Show and the Te Roopu Tautoko Maori group. The popular Butch Watene will be the MC for the day and will inject a lot of humour into the day. Local groups Karmarty Boys and Black Magic round off the entertainment for the day.
A fully licenced bar will operate and will have Kiwi TUI beer for sale. Montana and Stoneleigh Wines from New Zealand will be a highlight. Soft drinks and water will be widely available. Prices are reasonable and BYO alcohol is NOT PERMITTED. The traditional HANGI will be bigger this year and tickets are on sale at the entry gate. This wonderful food is cooked in an earth over and has an exotic and unique smokey flavour. Cook Islander and Maori foods as well as Kiwi Lamb rolls and Mussels, as well as Hungarian Langos, Kebabs, Dutch potterjies (pancakes), Seafood, as well as a range of carnival foods. Make sure you get a Tumeke burger and some Rewana and fried bread and make sure you ask for a Kina, or sea cucumber, an island specialty that tastes a lot better than it looks. No one will go hungry
There will also be an avenue of market stalls selling everything from tattoo’s to garden sculptures, sports memorabilia, carvings, T Shirts, paintings and sketches, inflatable toys and Kiwi products. Some of the carvings are truly unique, and there is even a chance to buy a Kakahu or traditional and prized Maori feather cloak. There are also pui pui and poi balls as well as paua shell jewellery. Next to market street, will be sideshow alley and carnival rides such as dodgem cars, cups and saucers, base rock climbing, the Avalanche, Sizzler, and jumping castles for the young and young at heart. Test your skill shooting the ducks and win a prize for your sweetheart or youngster. You can even get a massage at Waitangi Day. Who needs to go to Bali ?? Homesick Kiwis can get their fix of kinas, mallow puffs, gingernuts, toffee pops, murphys thick cut chips and L & P.
Entry fee is $20 for adults and kids under 16 years of age are free. Please bring student ID cards. Free parking is available at the ground. Shade is limited so please bring lots of sunscreen and some shade and seats. Funds from the event are used to help the development of the Bond Pirates Rugby Union Club. If there are any enquiries please call Randall Cook on 55723437 or email waitangiday@hotmail.com.
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