Welcome to our Waitangi Day festival - a celebration born from Pita Garland’s belief that food, culture, and kindness can bring a community together. This event honours that belief by creating a welcoming day of shared kai, performances, and conversation where everyone who comes is treated with dignity and respect.
 

​

Pita Garland Story

matua, Pita Garland was first involved Waitangi Day festivals that began in Allara in 2019. In 2020 Pita founded Wider Community Food Relief during covid with the desire to open community pantries across the wider community. the mission was to reduce food wastage in supermarkets that are still safe for human consumption from ending up in landfil. wcfr collect 20k tonne of donated dry goods, fruit, veg per year. this food is passed on to the wider community, where all are welcome. 

sadly, Pita lost his 7 year battle with prostate cancer in 2022, his warmth, curiosity, and commitment to community remain the guiding light for wcfr and for our waitangi day festival. 

we celebrate our third year, this festival continues in the memory of matua pita garland. 
 

​

Vision and Values

• Vision: A community where cultural pride, generosity, and unity are inseparable — where no one is left out of the table.

• Values: Compassion; cultural respect and celebration; inclusion; community leadership; nourishment of body and spirit.

• Promise: We create spaces that welcome stories, lift voices, and restore dignity through food and shared experience.
   

 

What to Expect at the Festival

• Food: A variety of kai that reflects the many cultures in our neighbourhood, served with attention to cultural authenticity and dietary needs.

• Culture: Performances, waiata, storytelling, and demonstrations that honour the histories and living traditions of our people.

• Connection: community stalls, and opportunities to meet local support services — all designed to build lasting relationships, not just a one-day gathering.

• Family Friendly: Activities for tamariki, accessible facilities, and an atmosphere intended to be welcoming for people of every age and background.
   

 

How You Can Join

• Attend: Bring your family, bring a friend, bring curiosity.

• Share:  share the event on social media

• Support: Donate or partner with us so we can keep combining celebration 

• Listen: Come with an open heart to hear stories, learn, and be part of Pita’s living legacy.
   

 

Invitation

This Waitangi Day is an invitation to be part of something matua Pita imagined: a community that cares for one another through celebration and service. Join us to honour that vision, to share kai and stories, and to help build the inclusive, caring place Pita always hoped for.