International Blog
New Zealand celebrates national day
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
February 6th is New Zealand’s national day. It is a public holiday held each year to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of Aotearoa (New Zealand in Maori), on that date in 1840.
February 6th is New Zealand’s national day. It is a public holiday held each year to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of Aotearoa (New Zealand in Maori), on that date in 1840.
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands in Northland. Representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed the document. The Treaty was signed to protect Maori land interests in exchange for recognition of British sovereignty. To learn more about the Treaty of Waitangi, go to http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/category/tid/133
Waitangi Day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974. Prior 1934, most celebrations of New Zealand's founding as a colony were marked on January 29, the date on which William Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands.
Celebrations are held throughout the country but most are on a small scale within communities on on Marae as opposed to widespread large gatherings. As the day is usually in the warmest part of New Zealand’s summer, many people gather with family and friends on the beach. New Zealand Embassies and High Commissions around the world celebrate Waitangi Day. To find out what is happening around New Zealand in celebration of Waitangi Day, go to http://www.nzlive.com/en/event/tag/waitangi-day
For more information on this website about New Zealand culture and language click HERE
Happy Waitangi Day!
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