Getting kids engaged with a national holiday that isn’t centered on presents or chocolate can sometimes feel like trying to herd cats. You want them to understand the significance, but a history lecture for a five-year-old? Yeah, that’s a hard pass.
Waitangi Day can be tricky to navigate with little ones. It’s a day of commemoration, reflection, and for some, contention. But for our kids, it’s also an opportunity—a chance to plant the seeds of understanding about where we live and the unique partnership this country is built on.
So, how do we make it fun without being disrespectful? How do we celebrate without glossing over the complex bits? I’ve been wrestling with this for years in my own whānau, and I’ve rounded up our go-to activities. These aren’t just time-fillers; they’re conversation starters. FYI, this list is a mix of crafty chaos, kitchen experiments, and genuine learning moments.
1. Kick Off with a Waiata (Singing Session)
Music is the ultimate leveller, isn’t it? You can’t feel too grumpy when you’re belting out a tune. Learning a waiata is a beautiful way to connect with te reo Māori and the spirit of the day.
Find a Local Favourite
Don’t just stick to the national anthem (though that’s a great start!). Hop on YouTube and look for waiata for kids. “E Rere Taku Poi” is a classic with simple actions, and “Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi” is all about unity—perfect for the day. IMO, the actions are the best part; they tell a story and get the wiggles out.
Make Your Own Poi
This is where the fun—and the inevitable mess—begins.
- What you’ll need: Old plastic bags (or newspaper), some string or wool, and scissors.
- What you do: Cut the plastic bags into strips. Bunch them together, tie them tightly in the middle with your string, and voilà! You have a poi head. Attach a longer piece of string for the cord.
Sure, they might fall apart after ten minutes of enthusiastic swinging, but that’s part of the charm. :/ It keeps them busy, and you can talk about how poi were traditionally used by Māori to increase flexibility and strength in the wrists and arms.
2. Create a Collaborative Art Piece (The Treaty Scroll)
Most kids have a very “what’s mine is mine” approach to life. Sharing isn’t always their strong suit. So, the idea of a treaty—an agreement between different groups to share a space—is a pretty big concept.
The Giant Scroll Project
Grab a long roll of paper—the back of an old wrapping paper roll works a treat. Spread it across the floor or a big table.
- The Goal: Explain that you’re going to create your own “treaty” for your family or for the day.
- The Symbols: Instead of writing out rules (boring!), have everyone draw symbols.
- A picture of a heart for kindness.
- A drawing of people holding hands for looking out for each other.
- A big sun for having fun together.
I love doing this because it gives me a peek into their little brains. It’s a visual representation of how they think we should treat each other. And when it’s done, roll it up and tie it with some ribbon, just like the real treaty documents. Hang it up as a reminder that we’re all in this together.
3. Hāngī-Inspired Cooking (Without the Earth Oven)
Look, I’m not suggesting you dig a pit in your backyard. My gardening skills are questionable enough without adding a massive hole to the mix. But we can definitely capture the spirit and the flavour of a hāngī.
The Slow Cooker Shortcut
This is my lazy-girl genius idea. The essence of a hāngī is food cooked slowly in the ground, steaming until it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender. Guess what else does that? A slow cooker.
- The Lineup: Throw in some chicken pieces, kūmara (sweet potato), pumpkin, and potato. Add a little water or coconut cream.
- The Magic: Leave it on low for 6-8 hours.
While it’s bubbling away, you can chat with the kids about the traditional method—how the stones are heated in the fire, how the food is placed in baskets, and how the whole thing is covered to steam. The result is a meal that feels like a hug, and the kids get to eat the fruits of their (very minimal) labour.
4. Dive Into Pūrākau (Storytelling Time)
New Zealand is packed with incredible stories. And I’m not just talking about the history books. The pūrākau (legends) of Aotearoa are epic—they’ve got drama, heroes, monsters, and amazing landscapes.
Legend-Themed Craft Session
Pick a story to read together. “How Māui Slowed the Sun” is always a hit—I mean, who hasn’t wished for longer days? After you’ve read it, get crafty.
- For “Māui and the Sun”: Make a sun out of a paper plate. Paint it, then add strips of yellow and orange paper for rays. You can even act out the story with the sun and a long piece of string (Māui’s rope).
- For “The Taniwha of Wellington”: Build a taniwha from egg cartons and toilet paper rolls. The possibilities are endless, and it’s a sneaky way to tie in geography and local history.
5. Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
This one gets them outside and burning off that endless kid-energy. Plus, it encourages them to really look at the world around them.
Create a Treasure List
Before you head out, make a list of things to find. Tailor it to your local area.
- Find these:
- A fallen ponga (tree fern) frond. It looks amazing and makes a great “sword” for a game later.
- A smooth stone from a river or beach.
- A leaf from a harakeke (flax) bush. (Be careful not to pull them, just pick one up from the ground!).
- Something that reminds you of the sea.
- A feather from a native bird (look, don’t touch if it’s from a protected species, just observe!).
It’s a simple activity, but it gets them connecting with the land—the very thing Waitangi Day is all about. When you get home, you can use your finds to create a nature collage.
6. DIY Māori Musical Instruments
Have you ever seen a kid with a cardboard tube? Instant magic. Channel that energy into making some traditional-style instruments.
Make a Pūrerehua (Bullroarer)
This is one of those “how does that even work?!” crafts that will keep them fascinated for ages.
- You need: A flat piece of wood (like a ruler or a thick piece of cardboard), some string, and vivids to decorate.
- The process: Decorate your piece of wood with koru patterns and other designs. Tie a long piece of string (about 60cm) to one end.
- The fun part: Find an open space (please, for the love of all that is good, not the living room), hold the string, and swing it around your head. It makes a low, humming, “whooshing” sound. In Māori culture, it was used in ceremonies and to communicate. My kids think it’s the coolest thing since slime.
7. Kapa Haka for the Living Room
You don’t need a marae or a stage to enjoy kapa haka. Your living room floor is the perfect place to start. It’s energetic, expressive, and a fantastic way to tell stories through movement.
Learn Some Basic Moves
Jump online and look for some simple tutorials. There are heaps aimed at tamariki (children).
- Focus on the basics: The haka (posture and stance), the wiri (the trembling of the hands—a hard one to master!), and some basic tī rākau (stick games) if you’re feeling brave. Just use wooden spoons. Trust me, it’s safer.
It’s a great way to get their hearts pumping and have a really good laugh. I’m a terrible dancer, but throwing myself into a haka in the lounge with the kids? Priceless.
8. The “What Does Partnership Mean to You?” Dinner Convo
Okay, this sounds way too serious, but stick with me. It’s not about grilling them. It’s about planting a seed. The Treaty of Waitangi is often described as a partnership. That’s a concept kids deal with every day.
Use Relatable Scenarios
Dinner time is the perfect setting for this—captive audience and all. Ask open-ended questions.
- “If you and your friend wanted to play with the same toy, how could you make a partnership work so you both have fun?”
- “What’s a rule we have in our house that helps us be good partners to each other?”
You can gently steer the conversation toward the treaty. “Well, a long time ago, two groups of people—the British and the Māori chiefs—signed a document to be partners in looking after this country. Sometimes they were really good at it, and sometimes they weren’t.” Keeping it simple and linking it to their world makes a huge difference.
9. Plant a Native Tree
If you have a garden, even a small one, this is one of the most tangible and forward-looking activities you can do. It’s a commitment to the future of Aotearoa.
A Living Memorial
Head to your local garden centre and pick out a native plant together. A hebe, a pittosporum, or even a tiny kauri if you have the space (and patience!).
- Get them involved: Let them dig the hole (under supervision, obviously), place the plant in, and pat down the dirt.
- The explanation: Tell them, “This tree is going to grow up with you. It’s our way of saying we’re going to look after this land, just like the Treaty promised.”
Every time they see that plant, they’ll remember the day they put it in the ground. It’s a living, breathing reminder of their connection to this place.
10. Quiet Time with a NZ-Themed Book
After a day of crafting, cooking, and swinging poi, you’re going to need some quiet time. We all are. This is where a good book saves the day.
Our Favourite Reads
Curl up on the couch with a stack of beautiful New Zealand picture books.
- For the littlies: Anything by Donovan Bixley is gold. His books are full of kiwi charm and often include te reo.
- For a deeper story: “The Māori Picture Dictionary” by Ross Calvert is fantastic for learning words together.
- For the story of the day itself: Look for children’s versions that explain the Treaty of Waitangi in simple, beautiful language. Reading it together allows for those quiet, “what do you think about that?” moments without any pressure.
This quiet time is just as important as the active stuff. It’s where the day’s messages can settle in their minds.
So there you have it. Ten ways to make Waitangi Day meaningful without needing a degree in early childhood education. It’s not about getting it perfectly right. It’s about trying, about starting the conversation, and about showing our kids that this history is their history too.
Now, go forth and get a little bit messy. And maybe have a glass of wine ready for when the poi inevitably gets tangled in the ceiling fan. You’ve earned it. 🙂
