Latest News Waitangi Day 09 Origins Festival It’s on again. For the third year running, the unique Wairarapa Waitangi Day event is booked for Queen Elizabeth Park.  As with last year, the event will be held on a perfectly sunny day between 11am – 3pm on the oval and organisers are kick-starting preparations with an ‘open invite’ public meeting 10 weeks out from the big day.  What: Waitangi Day Origins 09 planning meeting – open to the public When: November 26 Where: MDC Frank Cody Lounge, Masterton Time: 9 -10am Purpose: To discuss stallholders and acts  Festival 09 spokesman Edwin Perry said the event had rapidly become ‘a must have’ for Waitangi Day, with the kaupapa ‘falling into place naturally and with no effort on any one person or organisation’s part’.  In February this year more than 5,000 people turned out to immerse themselves in food and culture from around the world – sampling everything from hangi to haggis, Pakistan, Indian, Filipino and Zimbabwean fare.  “We’re hoping many of this year’s cultural performers will come forward to take part in February’s Waitangi Day as it was so good to see the crowd enjoying the show and it was equally obvious those on stage were loving being there, Mr Perry said. Funding for the festival had again been secured and ‘it’s now up to the community to come together again to make sure this great event does us all proud’.  For mor information contact the Masterton District Council call centre on (06) 370 6300 or email origins@mstn.govt.nz 21 November 2008