Hosted by Mayor Kevin Winters representing the Rotorua District Council (RDC) and Ngati Whakaue, the ceremony begins at 6.45am at the Energy Events Centre car park.

At 7am RDC director of Kaupapa Maori, Mauriora Kingi, and Waiariki Institute of Technology kaumatua, Ken Kennedy, will lead the congregation through every room and corridor in the building where they will incite karakia tawhito (traditional incantation).

Mr Kingi said the purpose of having the karakia is to acknowledge the Ngati Whakaue land the building sits on, which was once a battlefield, and to acknowledge the Gods, the children of Ranginui and Papatuanuku.

“It’s important we acknowledge our tikanga. It’s the acknowledgement of the land and the people who once upon a time resided here, fought here and died here. We’re making peace with all those people and acknowledging the Atua.”

Once they have completed the karakia tawhito, Father Ahern and Reverend Poata will conduct a closing prayer in the Grand Hall of the complex, followed with a welcome from Pihopa Kingi and Mayor Kevin Winters.

The ceremony is being held on the eve of the centre’s first major conference. The Learning @ Schools Conference on Tuesday 20 February is expected to attract more than a thousand delegates from around the country.

Official opening celebrations take place next month over the weekend of 9 – 11 March 2007.