FEBRUARY 6, 2020 New Zealand Waitangi Day Special
New Zealand Waitangi Day Special Maori traditions integral part of celebrations Every year on Feb. 6, New Zealanders cel- sight of New Zealand was Dutch explorer wooden vessel, with room for 80 paddlers In geothermal Rotorua, Waitangi Day ebrate Waitangi Day, a public holiday to Abel Tasman. He was on an expedition and 55 passengers, is an impressive sight is commemorated at Whakarewarewa commemorate the signing of New Zea- to discover a great southern continent both on land and afloat. Waitangi also — a living Maori village — with an event land’s founding document — the Treaty “Great South Land” that was believed to hosts a festival on the day that includes known as whakanuia, which literally of Waitangi — between the British Crown be rich in minerals. In 1642, while search- music, dance, food and traditional Maori means “to acknowledge, promote and and the Maori in 1840. ing for this continent, Tasman sighted a customs. celebrate.” The day’s activities center on The national holiday was first declared “large high-lying land” off the west coast learning about Maori cultural activities, in 1974. Since then, it has grown in sig- of the South Island. Celebrations across the nation including kai, crafts, Maori medicine, nificance in New Zealand through the Prior to 1840, it was mainly whalers, In Auckland — New Zealand’s largest city local legends and history. Maori renaissance that has fostered bet- sealers and missionaries who came to — the national day is celebrated near the Elsewhere, Waitangi Day celebrations ter understanding of the treaty’s ramifi- New Zealand. These settlers had consid- city’s birthplace at Bastion Point.
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