UPDATE 10.25AM: With people of all cultures and nationalities converging on Hopukiore (Mount Drury) this morning, many who attended the dawn service say Waitangi Day is now being embraced and celebrated by all of NZ's people.

This was highlighted with the first multicultural group, Waiata International, performing at the event, seeing a string of different cultures sing in front a 300-strong crowd, just after 6.30am.

Kaumatua Kihi Ngatai sits with dignitaries at the Waitangi Day dawn service.

The special service, commemorating the signing of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840, began at 6.30am with a karakia (blessing) by tangata whenua followed by a community service and open forum, giving participants an opportunity to have a say about Waitangi Day.

Speaking to SunLive at the event, Ngai Te Rangi chairman Charlie Tawhiao says he's happy many cultures and races in Tauranga are celebrating the day's special meaning and the NZ's origins.

'What this morning means is a fulfilment of a promise made 147 years ago – and now I'm starting to see all New Zealanders embracing in this day – especially here in Tauranga – in a way that we haven't necessarily done so in the past.

'And that's a testament to the fact that people are starting to see the Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day as a being more than just day of protest, more than just a day of grievance and settlements, and increasingly for New Zealanders to celebrate our unique origins as a country and our place in the world today.

'It make me feel great as a New Zealander, as an iwi leader and as a member of the Tauranga community – because it been a long time coming.”

Church leader James Muir say he organised the performance by the multicultural group for the service because 'as a church in Tauranga we're waking up to our history and our story; and by and large want to be more involved in supporting the kaupapa of this day”.

'It's a significant day; [William] Hobson said: ‘We are now one nation', but in fact we are still a variety of people, although we live under one flag.

'So I've been encouraging the committee to think beyond Maori and pakeha. So today, we've invited the very diverse singing group.

'They're Korean, Chinese, Philipino, Brazilian Tongan, Samoan, they're Kiwi you know; and we want to bring life to it and help them find out from the speakers about what's outside they're understanding.”

Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby says it's interesting to note the day is now acknowledging other nationalities here in NZ. 'I think that's a huge step-changer, because here in Tauranga we are becoming more multicultural, which I see through the citizen ceremonies I preside over.”

Stuarts says Waitangi Day is a very important day in Tauranga. 'I was just reflecting this morning about how we've made a lot of progress in the relationship with our iwi and hapu. To me that what it's all about – relationships – acknowledging the past but more so how we move forward as one into the future.”

Rangitahi speaker Anna Keogh says Waitangi Day has always been a bit of sensitive subject for her because she hasn't always understood what it meant.

'I haven't understood what it meant in my head, but I understood what it meant in my heart – so for me, I've carried this sense of grief or sadness about what's happened in NZ history, but I've never been able to put words to it.”

As result, this is her first Waitangi Day service 'because I've haven't known what to do with this sense of grief I feel inside. But I went on a journey talking to people about it to try and seek to understand the feelings I have”.

'Basically, it come down to the fact that even though I don't fully understand the politics of the full history, I know there are good and not-so-good things about the treaty – and there's things people want to put right.

'So my heart is to see the physical and spiritual landscape of NZ redeemed – and for everybody to be able to walk forward and understand what the treaty means.”

Anna says many people don't come to Waitangi Day celebrations not simply because they don't care or don't see the value in it 'but because they don't understand it”.

'In the news you can see disagreements, politics and lots of emotion, but you don't know how that translates to how you walk to your life in regards to the history of NZ – or how you feel about it.”

For Te Puna minister Pa Hemi Waitangi Day is a tapu day. 'The treaty was signed and I believe it came from God and man played their part, signing the treaty to be part of a unifying document to help all peoples.”

Pa says the last few years' gatherings have enjoyed a good-size crowd at Mount Drury and he knew it would be the same this morning.

'I think people have got a special understanding and appreciation; and they want to acknowledge the whole meaning and significance of the day. It's good.”

7.44AM: Waitangi Day service unfolds

As the light touches Hopukiore (Mount Drury) this morning, crowds of people of all races are attending the Waitangi Day annual dawn service.

The special service, commemorating the signing of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840, began at 6.30am with a karakia (blessing) by tangata whenua followed by a community service and open forum, giving participants an opportunity to have a say about Waitangi Day.

Local kaumatua and kuia, supported by rangatahi and clergy from community church groups are all talking at the service this morning.

Initiated by Maori elders and members of the Tauranga Moana District Maori Council in the late 1970s, the event continues to play a significant part in the region's historical heritage.

An international flavour in the form of an multicultural musical group is performing and this year's rangatahi speakers are Te Kahu Rolleston and Anna Keogh.

Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby and Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson are present, along with Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Doug Leeder.

The annual tradition has been initiated by Maori elders since 35 years ago, is continuing to grow, with many turning out this morning to mark the country's milestone.

Marine Parade will be closed near Mount Drury, from Grace Ave to Pacific Ave, today from 5am-10am.

Apology: SunLive apologises for an error in an earlier version of this story in which Kaumatua Kihi Ngatai was incorrectly named.

Kaumatua Kihi Ngatai opens the Waitangi Day dawn service with a karakia (blessing) at Hopukiore (Mount Drury) .