Waitangi Day, New Zealand, 6th February 2010

Waitangi Day on the 6th February has been an annual public holiday since 1974 and commerates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document in 1840. It is generally regarded as a focus for debate on national identity and multiculturalism in New Zealand and is celebrated with a variety of events throughout the country.

The Treaty of Waitangi

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds is New Zealand's pre-eminent historic site, as it was here on 6th February 1840 that the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed between Māori and the British Crown. On this date each year, New Zealanders of all ethnic backgrounds and creeds gather to commemorate the signing of the Treaty.

About the Treaty Grounds

The Treaty Grounds are part of the Waitangi National Trust estate, gifted to the nation in 1932. The grounds are open daily to the public from 9.00am (excluding Christmas Day). Features of the Treaty Grounds include:

• The Treaty House - One of New Zealand's oldest and most visited historic homes
• Te Whare Runanga - fully-carved Māori meeting house, representing all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand
• Ngatokimatawhaorua - one of the world's largest Māori ceremonial war canoes
• The Naval flagstaff – marking the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed
• Waitangi Visitor Centre – featuring audio visual shows and live cultural performances
• Gift shop, artefacts gallery, cafe, parkland, guided tours and educational programmes.

Waitangi Day Events

Waitangi - Over 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the celebrations at Waitangi, which this year include:

• Māori cultural performances
• Speeches from Māori and Pakeha (European) dignitaries
• A re-launch of the world's largest Māori ceremonial waka (war canoe)
• Free three-day family festival of music, dance, sport, food and traditional Māori customs, including Ki-o-rahi, a Māori game that may be even older than rugby.

View more information about the Waitangi Day and Festival 2010, Waitangi.

Auckland – From 8:30 am in New Zealand's largest city, the national day is celebrated at the city's birthplace, Okahu Bay Domain. Free family-orientated festivities include:

• Traditional powhiri (welcome) from Ngati Whatua o Orakei at Okahu Bay
• Live entertainment by Cornerstone Roots, Six60, Herbs, Three Houses Down and 1814
• Traditional food and art stalls, farm animals, a kids' entertainment stage and a large children's rides zone.

View more about Auckland's Waitangi Day celebrations.

Wellington – The free, family celebrations start at 10:00 am in Waitangi Park and include:

• Blessing ceremony followed by musical performances from Congolese musician Sam Manzanza, The Wellington Pipe Band and Batucada (percussion group)
• A powhiri (formal welcome) at midday by the Wellington Tenths Trust
• Traditional kapa haka performances
• Contemporary Māori and Irish music, salsa and dance, market stalls and picnicking.

View more about Wellington's Waitangi Day celebrations.

Christchurch / Okains Bay / Akaroa – About 90 minutes from Christchurch, the main local sites of celebration are the Onuku Marae and Okains Bay. Events include:

• A traditional Māori welcome onto Marae at 9:00 am
• Two magnificent carved waka being paddled up the river
• Colonial displays, exhibits, crafts, musket shooting, cross-cut sawing, vintage engines, steam engine, printing presses, children’s games, races, tug-o-war, traditional hangi lunch, sausage sizzle, refreshments, music and a garden bar.

View more about Christchurch's Waitangi Day celebrations.

To find Waitangi Day events in the area of New Zealand that you're visiting, simply search online to find more information – celebrations and festivals are held throughout the country.