Say what you will about America – and I have, frequently – they certainly have their holidays down.

Americans make such a fuss over their public holidays that I became convinced that they must actually have a lot more than we get to enjoy here in New Zealand. Which isn't true. Americans get fewer public holidays - or federal holidays as they are more correctly called – than us. But their holidays are cooler.
For a start, most of our holidays come in pairs, so that the second days holiday is just an historically insignificant bonus. There's New Year's Day and The Day After New Year's Day; there's Good Friday and Easter Monday; and there's Christmas Day and Boxing Day. That's over half our holidays in three quick pairs. The others are Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Queen's Birthday, Labour Day, and your particular province's Anniversary Day.
Americans, by comparison, have New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labour Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. And every four years they get Inauguration Day off.
But what strikes me is that their holidays are far more celebratory than ours. Every one of their holidays, most particularly Independence Day and Thanksgiving, are holidays where the country celebrate something that they genuinely care about and value. The same is not true here. After all, who really gives a toss about Queen's Birthday or Labour Day or Auckland Anniversary Day, which we've just had (the Bay of Plenty being about the only province that doesn't have its own anniversary), except as an excuse for a day off?
We may berate the US for the occasional embarrassing excess of patriotism or nationalism but I wonder if, secretly, these criticisms contain a little bit of envy. New Zealand may be a land of understated stoicism but perhaps – and perhaps we intuitively feel this – a little overt pride in the country, untainted by insecurity about our size and status, wouldn't be a bad thing.
And perhaps, someday, Waitangi Day, February 6, will be a day for that. It sometimes – when you ask people in the street and they can't even tell you the date of Waitangi Day – seems a long way off. But events like the Waitangi Day concert at Whareroa Marae give me hope.
This concert has been running for three years – attracting over 5000 people in 2007 – and in its celebration of New Zealand's diverse racial and musical cultures is everything a concert should be that celebrates Waitangi Day in New Zealand. This isn't a political concert, it doesn't aim to make any contentious points. It simply invites people to come and enjoy some of the astonishingly accomplished musicians singers and dancers nurtured in the Bay, everyone welcome. And that's the point – Everyone Welcome.
Topping the bill this year is Tauranga's current success story, Luke Thompson – whose debut album is in shops now – just returned from a headlining gig at the Parachute Festival alongside Dave Dobbyn. That's pretty high cotton as Parachute is now one of the biggest festivals in the Southern Hemisphere. He'll be playing with his full band.
Other treats on the day include David 'Snypa” Levi of Dubwise Soundsystem, a reggae master who heads to Australia not long after Waitangi Day for an album release and full tour of six states. Ace guitarist Regan Perry is also on board. He played last years Homegrown Festival, toured Japan and played in Australia for a couple of months so this is a rare chance to see him here.
Then there's melodic rock from The Mellowdrops, who are about to release their first single and just get better and better, something heavier from Nytmare and Sharmin, and solid authentic blues from Peri Kohu's Bluesbusters. There's also the kapahaka team from Ngati Ranginui, the only local team to reach the National Kapahaka Festival (being held here February 19-22), as well as the regularly sensational breakdancing of the Blackout Kru.
Gates open from 11am, the official start time is 12 noon; things finish at 6pm. The family-friendly event is alcohol free and food and beverages will be on sale, including a traditional Maori hangi.
To access the marae, concert goers will need to travel from Hewletts Road and turn in to Te Awa o Tukorako Lane, and off Taiaho Place (opposite Totara Street), Mt Maunganui South. Alternatively, people can visit www.ngaiterangi.org.nz for directions.