UPDATED 3.02PM: People at Waitangi have well and truly settled into the festivities that come with New Zealand's national day.

Around 250 people, including notables, leaders, and politicians, were welcomed on to the marae with a powhiri for the traditional dawn ceremony marking the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi - the founding constitutional document of New Zealand signed by Māori and colonial officials in 1840.

Over a thousand people watched from the sand and the road above.

A prayer was said by Reverend David Moko asking for the Treaty to be a guiding light for the nation.

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett, representing the government in lieu of Prime Minister Bill English, asked for our ancestors to protect the country, and for the national day to be celebrated with love.

Labour Party leader Andrew Little thanked those who gave us the Treaty, and asked for unity in a world often driven by division and hate.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw reminded those gathered that Māori did not cede sovereignty under the Treaty, and prayed that more is done to protect Te Reo Maori.

Dawn breaking on #WaitangiDay at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds 🌅 pic.twitter.com/uhudWGuQCU

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Chief Justice Sian Elias asked the crown to pray for those on the margins of society "on this birthday of our nation". She asked particularly for prayers for "those in our prisons".

And an impromptu moment in the service - Former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley was asked to come forward, as she was one of the people who organised the first dawn services at the Treaty Grounds. Shipley used the occasion to give thanks for the Treaty.

Rowdy protest from a few at the fringes of the crowd came in the closing minutes of the service. The two or three protesters were escorted off the grounds after being moved away from the service at the meeting house.

It's not clear what the protestors were aiming to achieve.

Powerful. A huge crowd for the grounding of the waka at Waitangi pic.twitter.com/KmWsxQItcK

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Following the prayers and readings, crowds sung the hymn Whakaaria Mai.

The archbishop then gave a blessing. In it he said the treaty was a partnership, and it provides a basis of hope.

That was followed by sounds of the national anthem ringing throughout the dimly lit whare.

Iwi leader Sonny Tau then stood up to end the service and used the occasion to say the country still has a long way to go when it comes to the Treaty. He says he's never said anything like that before at the dawn service before.

A final waiata was sung marking the 177th year since our founding document was signed, as crowds left Te Whare Runanga.

And at midday a 21 gun salute was heard from the HMNZS Canterbury - which is sitting in the picturesque Bay of Islands.

Prime Minister Bill English led a party of about 70 at Orakei Marae in Auckland, including government ministers Hekia Parata, Maggie Barry, Paul Goldsmith and Alfred Ngaro. His wife Mary English is with him.

English addressed those gathered in both Maori and English.

"The reason I wanted to come here was because the memory of Bastion Point is still so much alive for many New Zealanders," English said.

"To move from Bastion Point to [where we are] today is a marvellous achievement and we are here to celebrate that today."

Hundreds of people gathered on the Waitangi foreshore, across from Te Tii Marie, to witness the arrival of nine waka and the haka of the crew who brought the wake ashore.

Religious leaders from around the country, led a multi-denominational service at the carved meeting house at Waitangi's Treaty Grounds. The crowd was welcomed by Bishop of Tai Tokerau, the Rt Rev'd Te Kitohi Pikaahu. A waiata was sung, and a gospel read in both Te Reo and English.

The huge Waitangi festival in the grounds is now well underway, with markets, tents and food stalls selling everything from watermelon ice-cream bowls to mussel fritter burgers and fried bread.