Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day is a special day in New Zealand. It celebrates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, when Māori chiefs and the British Crown signed an agreement together. This treaty is like the country's founding document.

The main celebrations happen at the Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands. People start very early — at 5 AM! There are large waka (canoe) on the water, music concerts, market stalls, and cultural performances. It is a day of celebration, but also a day when people stop and think.

Waitangi Day is a public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand. The work of honouring what the Treaty truly means — and of restoring Māori rights and self-determination — is still going on today. We celebrate Waitangi Day so that no one forgets that promise.