Which country celebrates Waitangi Day on February 6?
Quick answer
New Zealand celebrates Waitangi Day on February 6 every year. It marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February 6, 1840, between representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs. The treaty is considered New Zealand’s founding document. Waitangi Day is a national public holiday.
Key facts
- Country
- New Zealand
- Date
- February 6
- Marks
- The Treaty of Waitangi, signed February 6, 1840
- Public holiday since
- 1974 (as New Zealand Day; renamed Waitangi Day in 1976)
The treaty
The first signing took place at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island. Copies were then taken around the country, and more than 500 chiefs signed during 1840.
Two versions, two meanings
| English version | Māori version (Te Tiriti) | |
|---|---|---|
| Article 1 | Māori give up sovereignty to the Crown | Māori grant kāwanatanga (governorship) |
| Article 2 | Māori keep possession of lands and resources | Māori keep tino rangatiratanga (full chieftainship) |
| Article 3 | Māori get the rights of British subjects | Similar |
Most chiefs signed the Māori-language version, which many Māori understood as sharing power rather than giving it up. These differences have been at the center of debate ever since.
Broken promises and redress
Over the following decades, Māori lost most of their land through wars, confiscations and unfair sales. In 1975, the Waitangi Tribunal was set up to investigate breaches of the treaty. Since the 1990s, the government has negotiated settlements with many iwi (tribes), including apologies, money and the return of some land.
How Waitangi Day is marked
- Ceremonies at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, including a dawn service and a large waka (canoe) display
- Concerts, festivals and family gatherings around the country
- Political speeches and, often, protests about treaty issues
New Zealand’s other “firsts”
New Zealand was the first self-governing country to give women the vote, in 1893; see which country first gave women the vote. Its capital is covered in what the capital of New Zealand is. For a traditional Māori greeting, see what a hongi is.
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