Commemorating Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day

New Zealand’s Founding Agreement

A teacher in my primary school days took our class to Waitangi to explore rocks on the sea’s edge. We discovered small grabs and sea anemone. It was on that school trip our teacher explained the significance of Waitangi and the treaty, New Zealand’s Founding Agreement, signed between Maori and the Crown.

The Treaty of Waitangi and Its Significance

Waitangi Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, an agreement between representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs. Signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, the Treaty is widely regarded as New Zealand’s founding document. It established a framework for British sovereignty while promising protection of Māori rights and property. The Treaty’s dual-language texts, English and Māori, have led to differing interpretations, public debates, particularly around the concepts of sovereignty and governance. Despite its contested legacy, the Treaty remains central to New Zealand’s constitutional and cultural identity.

Early Commemorations and Growing Recognition

The first official Waitangi Day celebration occurred in 1934, two years after Governor-General Lord Bledisloe gifted the Treaty House and grounds to the nation. His vision was to create a national memorial to the Treaty. Throughout the mid-20th century, commemorations grew in scale and significance, though they often failed to acknowledge Māori grievances. By the 1960s, public awareness of the Treaty’s importance increased, and calls for formal recognition intensified. The Waitangi Day Act of 1960 gave the day its name but did not make it a public holiday.

Becoming a Public Holiday

In 1973, legislation was passed to make 6 February a public holiday, initially renaming it “New Zealand Day” to foster a broader sense of national unity. However, this change was criticised for downplaying the Treaty’s significance. In 1976, the name “Waitangi Day” was restored, and the date officially became a public holiday commemorating the Treaty of Waitangi. Since then, Waitangi Day has evolved into both a celebration and a platform for protest, particularly around unresolved Treaty claims and Māori rights. In 2013, the Holidays Amendment Act ensured that Waitangi Day would be “Mondayised” if it fell on a weekend, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of national observance.

Contemporary Reflections

Today, Waitangi Day is recognised as New Zealand’s national day. For many, it is a time of celebration, marked by citizenship ceremonies, cultural events, and public gatherings. For others, especially Māori, it remains a day of reflection and protest, highlighting ongoing debates about the Treaty’s promises and their fulfilment. Some years protests have been disruptive and acrimonious. However, commemorations at Waitangi and across the country remain peaceful, continue to evolve, reflecting both pride in New Zealand’s bicultural foundations and the challenges of honouring them in practice.