Februrary 6 is a annual holiday in New Zealand called Waitangi Day (pronounced why-tang-eee). Waitangi Day is a celebration of the signing of the "Treaty of Waitangi" which is New Zealand's founding document originally signed in 1840.
The treaty not only made New Zealand part of the British Empire but it also gave the indigenous Maori rights to their land and the same rights as British citizens. For this reason, Waitangi Day is used to celebrate Maori heritage and traditions. It is also used by the Maori as a day to protest. This year many Maori gathered together to protest injustices regarding water pollution and shared fresh water allowances.
In Queenstown, Waitangi Day was celebrated with a festival and concert. Since it's the last long weekend before school starts up again after the summer holiday, many people use it to get in one last vacation. Sean and I went to the Queenstown Gardens where all the festivities were and hung out on the lawn listening to music. We heard a lot of reggae music and this is because (as I found out later) February 6 is also the birthday of Bob Marley.
When I first found out that Monday was a holiday, I started asking whatever local I could find what the reason/meaning of the holiday was. Interestingly, nobody could really explain it to me or seemed to care about the history behind it. I was told to "look it up." I got the feeling that locals appreciated the day off but weren't necessarily focusing on it as a way to celebrate Maori culture.
Makes me hungry! I am really enjoying your postings....keep them coming. cousin steve