{"id":872074,"date":"2024-02-03T08:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T07:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=872074"},"modified":"2025-08-19T01:26:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T00:26:29","slug":"waitangi-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/waitangi-day\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Waitangi Day and how does New Zealand celebrate it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Every year on February 6th, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/en-au\/destinations\/australia-and-new-zealand\/new-zealand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Zealand<\/a> (Aotearoa) commemorate Waitangi Day, otherwise known in M\u0101ori as R\u0101 o Waitangi. In 1840, British representatives and M\u0101ori chiefs signed what is considered to be the country\u2019s founding document &#8211; the Treaty of Waitangi. As a national holiday, this special day is an opportunity for New Zealanders to celebrate the country\u2019s history and also reflect on the relationship between M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101 (non-M\u0101ori New Zealanders).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>GET INSPIRED BY:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/en-au\/tours\/jewels-of-the-bay\"> Jewels of the Bay<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-waitangi-day\"><strong>What is Waitangi Day?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Waitangi Day is New Zealand\u2019s national holiday, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between representatives of the British Crown and more than 40 rangatira (M\u0101ori chiefs) in the Bay of Islands on the North Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a day steeped in history and cultural significance, with formal ceremonies, hui (gatherings), and p\u014dwhiri (welcome ceremonies) taking place alongside concerts, food festivals, and family picnics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>RELATED CONTENT: <\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/new-zealand-maori-culture-and-customs\/\"><strong><em>Discover more New Zealand M\u0101ori culture and customs<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-treaty-of-waitangi\"><strong>What is the Treaty of Waitangi<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Treaty of Waitang, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a document establishing British sovereignty while promising M\u0101ori the protection of their lands, resources, and M\u0101ori customs. It was drafted in just a few days by William Hobson, New Zealand\u2019s first Governor, and James Busby, the British Resident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>GET INSPIRED BY:<\/strong><\/em><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/en-au\/tours\/highlights-of-australia-and-new-zealand\"><em><strong>Stunning highlights of Australia and New Zealand<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-was-the-treaty-of-waitangi-signed\">When was the Treaty of Waitangi signed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>RELATED CONTENT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/hangi-traditional-maori-cooking-technique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Introducing Hangi: the traditional M\u0101ori cooking technique<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-many-chiefs-signed-the-treaty-of-waitangi\">How many <strong>chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>GET INSPIRED BY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/en-au\/tours\/new-zealand-uncovered\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Zealand Uncovered<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-first-waitangi-day\"><strong>The first Waitangi Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1934, New Zealand marked the first <a href=\"https:\/\/nzhistory.govt.nz\/politics\/treaty\/waitangi-day\/the-first-waitangi-day\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Waitangi Day<\/a> to celebrate Governor-General Lord Bledisloe\u2019s 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 M\u0101ori 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 M\u0101ori attended the first commemoration in 1934. However, not all M\u0101ori agreed with the drafting and implementation of the Treaty, a debate that continues to this day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>RELATED CONTENT: <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/indigenous-cultures\/\"><em><strong>A celebration of Indigenous cultures around the world<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-controversies-around-the-day-and-treaty\"><strong>Controversies <\/strong>around the day and Treaty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the day is a celebration for some, it\u2019s also a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuff.co.nz\/pou-tiaki\/300507811\/waitangi-day-a-legacy-of-protest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">day of protest<\/a> and debate. In the years following the signing of the Treaty, M\u0101ori continued to experience dispossession of their lands and rights abuse. Many of the agreements in the Treaty <a href=\"https:\/\/teara.govt.nz\/en\/nga-ropu-tautohetohe-maori-protest-movements\/page-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">were not honoured<\/a>. The Treaty was also drafted in only a few days in both English and M\u0101ori 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>GET INSPIRED BY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/maori-culture-new-zealand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/7-incredible-experiences-in-new-zealand\/\">7 incredible experiences in New Zealand<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-recognition-as-a-national-day\"><strong>Recognition as a national day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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 &#8220;New Zealand Day&#8221; to foster a sense of national unity. Criticism followed that the new name was denigrating to the Treaty and M\u0101ori history. Three years later in 1976, the government brought back the original and true name &#8211; Waitangi Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>RELATED CONTENT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/en-au\/tours\/contrasts-of-new-zealand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Contrasts of New Zealand<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-new-zealand-celebrate-waitangi-day\"><strong>How does New Zealand celebrate Waitangi Day?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The main Waitangi Day celebration occurs in Waitangi at the Treaty Grounds. The country\u2019s 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 R\u016bnanga, the carved meeting house at the Treaty Grounds. Visitors can experience traditional p\u014dwhiri, kapa haka (M\u0101ori performing arts), live music, and storytelling from lots of local artists and performers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also flag-raising ceremonies and a 21-gun salute from the Royal NZ Army. Navy ships and waka (M\u0101ori canoes) take to the waters of the Bay of Islands and put on a thrilling showcase. You\u2019ll even see Ng\u0101tokimatawhaorua, New Zealand\u2019s largest ceremonial war canoe displaying its prowess. Markets and food stalls serving h\u0101ngi (earth-oven-cooked meals), and community hui fill the day, while families gather for picnics and activities in parks across the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>GET INSPIRED BY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/australia-and-new-zealand-experiences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trafalgar&#8217;s authentic Australia and New Zealand experiences<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-is-waitangi-day-celebrated-outside-of-new-zealand\">How is Waitangi Day celebrated outside of New Zealand?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With large Kiwi communities overseas, from Australia to the UK and US, R\u0101 o Waitangi is celebrated far beyond Aotearoa\u2019s shores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Australia, M\u0101ori cultural groups host kapa haka performances, p\u014dwhiri, and h\u0101ngi 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&#8217;s Bush. And across the pond in Los Angeles and Honolulu celebrators host community events showcase M\u0101ori customs. These celebrations bring together the M\u0101ori diaspora as well as international friends to honour New Zealand&#8217;s heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>RELATED CONTENT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/maori-culture-new-zealand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5 ways to observe M\u0101ori culture in New Zealand<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-the-treaty-of-waitangi-affect-new-zealand-today\"><strong>How does the Treaty of Waitangi affect New Zealand today?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Treaty continues to have a major impact on Crown\u2013M\u0101ori relations. The New Zealand government is working with the <a href=\"https:\/\/waitangitribunal.govt.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Waitangi Tribunal<\/a> to address Crown breaches of the Treaty and put Treaty settlements into binding law.\u00a0The government has also established the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mch.govt.nz\/publications\/commemorating-waitangi-day-fund-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund<\/a> to support a range of events, such as h\u0101ngi and kapa haka performances and community tree planting. M\u0101ori 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\u2019s important to honour the historic meaning of the day and recognise the continued struggles of M\u0101ori in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>GET INSPIRED BY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/en-au\/tours\/new-zealand-panorama\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Zealand Panorama<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>How do you honour Waitangi Day? Let us know in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every year on February 6th, New Zealand (Aotearoa) commemorate Waitangi Day, otherwise known in M\u0101ori as R\u0101 o Waitangi. In 1840, British representatives and M\u0101ori chiefs signed what is considered to be the country\u2019s founding document &#8211; the Treaty of Waitangi. As a national holiday, this special day is an opportunity for New Zealanders to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":872076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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