Waitangi Day 2025

In 2025, New Zealand Celebrates 185th Waitangi Day

Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs signed what is often considered to be New Zealand's founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

New Zealand celebrates its Waitangi Day to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in Manukau between representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs.

History

Waitangi Day is celebrated annually every 6th of February to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in Manukau, 1840, between representatives of the British Crown (England and The Queen) and 500 Māori chiefs from various locations throughout the country (Northland Age, 2022).

The Waitangi Treaty is often called the founding document of New Zealand' and is written in two languages, Māori and English. The Treaty is named after the place in the Bay of Islands, where the treaty was first signed (Twinkl, 2022). The Treaty made New Zealand a part of the British Empire, guaranteed Māori rights to their land and gave Māori the rights of British citizens (Office Holidays, n.d.).

Celebrations

Waitangi Day was first commemorated in 1934; however, it was not declared a public holiday until 1954. It was known as New Zealand Day' and was changed to Waitangi Day' in 1976 (Twinkl, 2022). In accordance with the Holiday Act in January 2014, if Waitangi Day falls on a weekend, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday (Office Holidays, n.d.).

Events are held across the country to commemorate Waitangi Day. During Waitangi Day, people of all communities and backgrounds usually gather at Waitangi to take part in the Waitangi Day celebrations (Waitangi, 2022). As part of the celebrations at Waitangi there will be Māori cultural performances and speeches from Māori and New Zealand dignitaries. Furthermore, many festivals and concerts are held in urban centers, while re-enactments of the signing are performed to educate younger people of all cultures are happening throughout the country. Communities in New Zealand also take part in various activities on the day, such as eating hangi (traditional Maori food), kapa haka performances (dances), and tree planting (Twinkl, 2022).