General Information

1Waitangi is located in the Bay of Islands, 240kms north of Auckland. The Bay of Islands is the biggest tourist draw card of the north, luring thousands to its beautiful coastal scenery, scattered islands, and clear blue waters. Although it is no more spectacular than other spots along the Northland coast, what sets it apart is the easy access to the islands, and the bays rich history. This was the cradle of European settlement in New Zealand, clearly seen by the bay’s churches, mission stations, and orchards. It is also a major point for European, and especially Maori because of the Treaty of Waitangi – still New Zealand’s most important legal document. Waitangi is a good base to explore the Bay of Islands, as a few kilometres down the road is Paihia and further on is Haruru, Kerikeri, Opua and Russell.

Attractions

The Treaty Grounds are part of 1000acre Waitangi National Trust Estate, which was gifted to the nation by Lord Bledisloe, in 1932. A condition of the gift was that the estate was never to be a burden on the tax payer, thus not government founded. The biggest event of the year at Waitangi is on February the 6th, Waitangi Day. This national day is celebrated at Waitangi by three days of games, ceremony, music, and fun. Waitangi Day itself has always involved performance and parade from Royal New Zealand Navy and local cultural groups. Charges for entering the grounds are wavered for this day.

Feature of the Treaty Ground:

*	Treaty House: assembled on site from timber that was pre-cut in Sydney for the Georgian-style home of James Busby, appointed British President in 1833. One of New Zealand’s most famous, oldest, and most visited historic homes.
*	Te Whare Runanga: Maori meeting house situated on the northern side of lawn, constructed by many iwi, and representative of all iwi in New Zealand. Audio, visual presentation explains key elements on the ornately and richly carved panels.
*	Ngatoko Matahwaorua: waka housed in a specially built shelter, in the treaty grounds. The world’s largest ceremonial war canoe.
*	Naval Flagstaff: marks the actual place where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed.
*	Walk through the bush from the Treaty Grounds to Haruru Falls unguided or guided, where you will be introduced to some of the plants used for traditional Maori medicines.
*	Waitangi Visitors Centre live cultural shows – traditional flax weaving – educational programmes for school children and adults.
*	Waikokopu Café: award winning cuisine and fine wine.

The Treaty of Waitangi

Celebrations at Waitangi often begin February 5th at the Ngapuhi’s Te Tii marae, where political dignitaries are welcomed onto the marae, and hear speeches from the local iwi. The speeches often enclose issues of the day which leads to strong and active debate taking place.

On February 6th, Waitangi Day itself, beginning at dawn, the Royal New Zealand Navy raises the New Zealand Flag, Union Jack and White Ensign on the flagstaff in the Treaty Grounds. The ceremonies during the day generally include a church service and cultural displays such as song and dance. Several waka and a navy ship also re-enact coming ashore of Governor Hobson to sign the treaty. The day closes with the flags being lowered by the navy in a traditional ceremony.

Maori Translation of Waitangi

1 Waitangi;
Wai – water
tangi – weeping, mourning

History

The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti O Waitangi) was signed on February 6th 1840 in a marquee house at Waitangi, by representatives of the British Crown, the chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, and other Maori tribal leaders. The Treaty made New Zealand a British Colony and is generally considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation. A draft of the treaty had been presented to the local Maori chiefs the previous day. Governor William Hobson had returned to his ship, HMS Herald, anchored in the bay, expecting Maori to discuss the treaty for a day and possibly sign it on the morning of February 7th. However, Maori had debated signing the treaty later into the night and signalled the treaty would be signed on the morning of February 6, and did not have enough food to wait another day. Hobson was called ashore to sign the treaty just after noon, and was still dressed in his civilian clothes and carrying the only part of his uniform, his hat.

In the late 1830s, there were roughly 125,000 Maori and about 2000 European settlers in New Zealand. More immigrants were arriving all the time, and Captain William Hobson was sent to act for the British Crown in the negotiation of a treaty between the Crown and Maori.

Hone Heke was the first Maori rangatira to sign. The Maori text of the treaty was then taken around Northland to obtain additional Maori signatures and copies were sent around the rest of the country for signing, but the English text was signed only at Waikato Heads and at Manukau by 39 rangatira. By the end of that year, over 500 Maori had signed the Treaty, of those 500, 13 were women.

The first Waitangi Day was not celebrated until 1934. Prior to that date, most celebrations of New Zealand’s founding as a colony were marked on 29 January, the date on which William Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands. In 1971the Labour Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs, Matiu Rata introduced a private members bill to make Waitangi Day a national holiday, to be called New Zealand Day. After the 1972 election of a new Labour government under Norman Kirk, it was announced that from 1974, Waitangi would be a national holiday known as New Zealand Day.

Since the 1970s, Waitangi Day celebrations have been on time for protest by Maori and some Pakeha. The protests were not just over the loss of land, but the acceptance of Maoritanga (Maori values), acknowledgement of Maori as tangata whenua (people of the land) and, recently, Maori sovereignty and speedy settlement of land grievances. By 2000s it was apparent for many New Zealanders, the treaty had meaning far beyond its historical significance as the nations founding document.