Commemorating Waitangi Day
Posted 5 February 2008 // Helen Rickerby
The Treaty of Waitangi
Waitangi Day, on the 6th of February, is more than just a welcome public holiday at the beginning of the year – it’s when we commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document, in 1840.
Over the years it’s sometimes been a controversial reason for a public holiday, with protests against treaty breaches and debates about the differences between the Māori and English versions of the treaty.
It seems to me that New Zealanders are finding more and different ways to spend Waitangi Day. Among the many events listed on NZLive.com are:
- a festival at the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi
- One Love reggae/dub concert in Wellington – also a celebration of Bob Marley’s birthday on 6 February
- Porirua Festival of the Elements
- Raukawa Wild Food and Music Festival: Last Summer Fling in Tokoroa
- and, my personal fav for being the oddest Waitangi day event, the Whitestone Cheese Rolling competition in Southland.
There’s an excellent showcase of resources (including images and text from Te Ara) related to the history of the treaty on the Matapihi website.
