Recently updated on August 19th, 2025 at 01:26 am
Every year on February 6th, New Zealand (Aotearoa) commemorate Waitangi Day, otherwise known in Māori as Rā o Waitangi. In 1840, British representatives and Māori chiefs signed what is considered to be the country’s founding document – the Treaty of Waitangi. As a national holiday, this special day is an opportunity for New Zealanders to celebrate the country’s history and also reflect on the relationship between Māori and Pākehā (non-Māori New Zealanders).
This guide looks at the origins of the day, the meaning of the Treaty, and the many ways Waitangi Day is observed both in Aotearoa and around the world.
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What is Waitangi Day?
Waitangi Day is New Zealand’s national holiday, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between representatives of the British Crown and more than 40 rangatira (Māori chiefs) in the Bay of Islands on the North Island.
It’s a day steeped in history and cultural significance, with formal ceremonies, hui (gatherings), and pōwhiri (welcome ceremonies) taking place alongside concerts, food festivals, and family picnics.
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What is the Treaty of Waitangi?
The Treaty of Waitang, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a document establishing British sovereignty while promising Māori the protection of their lands, resources, and Māori customs. It was drafted in just a few days by William Hobson, New Zealand’s first Governor, and James Busby, the British Resident.
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When was the Treaty of Waitangi signed?
The first signing took place on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. Over the months that followed, the Treaty was taken around the country and signed by chiefs from other iwi (tribes).
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How many chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi?
By September 1840, over 500 chiefs from across the country had signed the document. If you visit Waitangi today, you will see the flagstaff standing on the Upper Treaty Grounds that marks the location of the first Treaty signing.
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The first Waitangi Day
In 1934, New Zealand marked the first Waitangi Day to celebrate Governor-General Lord Bledisloe’s gifting of Treaty House and grounds at Waitangi to the people of New Zealand. Lord Bledisloe intended for the site to become a memorial and symbol of the relationship between the indigenous Māori and the colonising people. As part of the first Waitangi Day, they also established a trust board to take care of the site. The board included descendants of the people involved in the signing of the first Treaty in 1840. Around 10,000 Māori attended the first commemoration in 1934. However, not all Māori agreed with the drafting and implementation of the Treaty, a debate that continues to this day.
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Controversies around the day and Treaty
While the day is a celebration for some, it’s also a day of protest and debate. In the years following the signing of the Treaty, Māori continued to experience dispossession of their lands and rights abuse. Many of the agreements in the Treaty were not honoured. The Treaty was also drafted in only a few days in both English and Māori versions, leading to an ongoing debate over the interpretation and implementation of the Treaty. Consequently, there is still a lot of controversy around the honouring of the Treaty.
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Recognition as a national day
As awareness of the Treaty grew throughout the 1960s, there were calls for the day to receive recognition as a public holiday. In 1973, Waitangi Day officially became a national holiday to mark the signing of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi. However, the government renamed the day “New Zealand Day” to foster a sense of national unity. Criticism followed that the new name was denigrating to the Treaty and Māori history. Three years later in 1976, the government brought back the original and true name – Waitangi Day.
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How does New Zealand celebrate Waitangi Day?
The main Waitangi Day celebration occurs in Waitangi at the Treaty Grounds. The country’s leaders and communities gather there each year to honour the day. The main celebrations take place at Waitangi on the North Island. The day begins with a dawn service in Te Whare Rūnanga, the carved meeting house at the Treaty Grounds. Visitors can experience traditional pōwhiri, kapa haka (Māori performing arts), live music, and storytelling from lots of local artists and performers.
There are also flag-raising ceremonies and a 21-gun salute from the Royal NZ Army. Navy ships and waka (Māori canoes) take to the waters of the Bay of Islands and put on a thrilling showcase. You’ll even see Ngātokimatawhaorua, New Zealand’s largest ceremonial war canoe displaying its prowess. Markets and food stalls serving hāngi (earth-oven-cooked meals), and community hui fill the day, while families gather for picnics and activities in parks across the nation.
You can also visit Te Tii Marae, a significant meeting place in Waitangi, which often hosts discussions on the Treaty and its role in modern New Zealand.
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How is Waitangi Day celebrated outside of New Zealand?
With large Kiwi communities overseas, from Australia to the UK and US, Rā o Waitangi is celebrated far beyond Aotearoa’s shores.
In Australia, Māori cultural groups host kapa haka performances, pōwhiri, and hāngi in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. In capital cities like London, Kiwis gather for concerts, sports events, and community hui, often at iconic venues such as the Kiwi-run pubs in Shepherd’s Bush. And across the pond in Los Angeles and Honolulu celebrators host community events showcase Māori customs. These celebrations bring together the Māori diaspora as well as international friends to honour New Zealand’s heritage.
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How does the Treaty of Waitangi affect New Zealand today?
The Treaty continues to have a major impact on Crown–Māori relations. The New Zealand government is working with the Waitangi Tribunal to address Crown breaches of the Treaty and put Treaty settlements into binding law. The government has also established the Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund to support a range of events, such as hāngi and kapa haka performances and community tree planting. Māori communities also mark the day with discussions around the Treaty. Some marae (meeting houses) hold open days or talks on the role of the Treaty. While many New Zealanders enjoy a long weekend on Waitangi Day, it’s important to honour the historic meaning of the day and recognise the continued struggles of Māori in New Zealand.
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How do you honour Waitangi Day? Let us know in the comments below.