Richard Eriwata, President of the Nga Hau E Wha Newcastle Maori Club, says a cultural centre is one way to do this.
"For a lot of our people, we've disconnected quite easily because of our distance and it's quite easy to be disconnected from your own culture"
The plans won't come to fruition for at least a few years but in the meantime the club wants to break down misconceptions and close the gap between Maori and non-Maori local community.
Marsh Tawa, an elder of the Newcastle Maori club, explains that the club has been going for 30 years.
"One of our elders established the club... and we are now getting it back on the road. It's a club open to all New Zealanders regardless of what race they are," he said.
The first local Waitangi Day event to be held in Lake Macquarie will be at Bolton Point on February 8th.
It is in celebration of the day the founding document of New Zealand was signed (6th February, 1840), making New Zealand a part of the British Empire.
Festivities include live entertainment from local Maori artists as well as those from places like the Cook Islands; a hangi; BBQ and Waka Taua arriving in traditional canoes.
Celebrations will kick off at Bolton Point Park from 9am.
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