Thousands attend Waitangi Day celebrations in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- While thousands of people celebrated Waitangi Day on Wednesday at the treaty grounds in theBay of Islands, thousands more poured into Porirua, near Wellington, to celebrate the city's Festival of the Elements.

Estimates put the crowd at the festival at between 20,000 to 30,000.

Festival co-ordinator Margaret Armour said the festival, organized by the Porirua Community Arts Council, was one of the major Waitangi Day events in New Zealand.

"It uses the arts to celebrate New Zealand's cultural diversity which is made possible by the Treaty of Waitangi."

More than 100 cultures have been represented at the festival since it began in 1992 and organizers said there were still many more who would attend in years to come.

It was a day of fun in the sun for the crowds as they watched the organizations, groups, artists and performers taking part in the colorful event.

Police said the event had gone off peacefully, with no incidents.