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The finely detailed carvings in this whare runanga A celebration of national history and culture represent each of the major Maori tribes. On Feb. 6, New Zealanders celebrate their Somewhat in sync with this process, day celebration, family gatherings are European import; kumara; and puha, a This meeting house, national day. Waitangi Day commemo- the treaty itself gained in importance in how most people experience them, and native species of edible thistle. These are at the Waitangi rates the signing of an important treaty in the latter half of the 20th century, primar- food is one of the most important factors. all boiled together in a big pot, which National Reserve, is 1840 between dozens of Maori chiefs and ily via protest movements in the 1960s Traditional Maori dishes are often part can be easily brought to a beach, park where the Treaty of the British crown. and 1970s over violations of the Day gatherings. Prior to the or friend’s backyard for a Waitangi Day Waitangi, New Waitangi Day is celebrated in various and other infringements on Maori rights. arrival of Europeans, Maori subsisted on picnic. Zealand’s founding capacities, including historical commemo- As a result, the treaty has gradually been a mix of farming, hunting and gathering. document, was rations and re-enactments at Treaty House incorporated into New Zealand law, such They cultivated plants such as kumara (a The article references excerpts from official signed in 1840. where the document was signed in New as with the establishment of the Waitangi kind of sweet potato) and taro, which they New Zealand government and the Waitangi DESTINATION Zealand’s Far North, citizenship ceremo- Tribunal to investigate treaty violations brought with them from their homeland, Treaty Grounds websites. NORTHLAND nies at Government House in Auckland, and the pact’s acknowledgment in court while the animals they hunted were a mix For more information, visit https:// and, perhaps most popularly, with picnics cases. of introduced and native species. A num- teara.govt.nz/en/maori-foods-kai-maori on the beach. The treaty having been made between ber of ingredients brought by the Europe- and https://www.waitangi.org.nz/ The Treaty of Waitangi was intended two great seafaring peoples, naval craft ans are also now an integral part of Maori discover-waitangi/ceremonial-war-canoe/ to stipulate the relationship between and have long played a role in the official cuisine including pork, potatoes, cabbage rights of the native Maori and incoming celebrations. New Zealand Navy vessels and corn. British settlers. Initially signed by about 45 and Maori watercraft re-enact the Lacking pottery, the Maori could only chiefs on Feb. 6, 1840, the treaty was even- landing of William Hobson, the new cook food in water by putting a hot stone tually signed by more than 500 Maori. Yet British governor of New Zealand, just a into a wooden bowl. This was enough to Congratulations despite being a crucial part of the forma- week before the treaty was signed. Prob- cook lighter ingredients like vegetables tion of modern New Zealand, the treaty’s ably the most impressive of these is the and small fish, but heavier foods such Congratulations on the Anniversary of prominence in the national consciousness 37.5-meter-long Ngatokimatawhaorua, as taro needed to be baked. They also faded for a time. The first Waitangi Day is an enormous waka named after the vessel preserved food by drying and fermen- on Waitangi Day Waitangi Day considered to have been nearly a century sailed by Kupe, a quasi-legendary figure tation. When cast-iron kettles arrived later in 1934, to dedicate making the Treaty who is said to have discovered New Zea- from Europe they were quickly adopted, House and grounds into a public reserve. land. The canoe, a word that completely changing how Maori cooked. A popular Keidanren Kaikan, 3-2, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, The next event was not for another six fails to do justice to the size and beauty of dish that includes all of the above aspects Tokyo 100-8270, Japan years, to commemorate the 100th anni- this watercraft, can carry 150 people and of Maori cuisine is “boil up,” a hearty versary of the treaty signing, with annual weighs 12 tons wet. While grand ceremo- stew made from a number of ingredients, P.O. Box 3049, Lower Queen St., Richmond Nelson, New Zealand events held since 1947. nies are an expected part of any national but that almost always includes pork, a

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