Some of New Zealand's largest annual Waitangi Day celebrations are held at the marae, and feature major Aotearoa musical artists, and food and craft stalls.

[2] In Auckland, Urban Māori first settled around the city's inner suburbs such as Freemans Bay, Ponsonby, however as housing quality was often substandard, the New Zealand Government established large-scale housing projects in the city's outer suburbs, including Te Atatū Peninsula in West Auckland.

[2] The Urban Māori population of West Auckland greatly increased, especially Ngāti Porou from the Gisborne District and Ngāpuhi from Northland.

[3] In the same year, two major figures involved with Hoani Waititi Marae, Aroha Sharples and Pita Sharples, saddened at hearing that children who attended kōhanga reo (language immersion kindergartens) felt the need to suppress their language and culture in mainstream schools, began establishing a kura kaupapa Māori (Māori-language immersion school) at the marae.

The poupou represent seven migratory waka that voyaged to New Zealand, depicting seven regional art styles, so that no single group could claim ownership of the space.