New Zealand celebrates statehood with Waitangi Day

On , Feb. 6 1840, the British were gifted to the nation in mances, a gift shop and an ar- government signed the Treaty trusty b Lord and Lady Bledis- tefacts gallery. of Waitangi with a number of loe. B Lord ledisloe was a for- Maori chiefs at a Bay of Is- mer governor general of New Impact to visitors lands settlement called Wait- Zealand. Most laws and policies have angi. Today the Waitangi Treaty been developed, arguably, The treaty was written in Grounds, part of the 1,000 within the framework of the both Maori and English and acre gifted site, are referred to Treaty. handed over governorship of as the birthplace of New Zea- Maori have long respected New Zealand to the British. It land. and welcomed overseas visi- enabled the peaceful pur- The grounds include one of torso t New Zealand. As “tan- chase of land for settlement New Zealand’s oldest and gata whenua” or the people of and gave the British authority most visited historic homes. the land, Maori command to establish rule in the coun- Treaty House, originally certain rights that are a con- try.I n return, the British were named “The Residency” was sequence of the Treaty and to guarantee and actively pro- built for the first British resi- recognize their status as the tect Maori tribal authority dent, , and his indigenous people of “Aote- over their possessions. family.e Th name was changed aroa” (the Maori word for New The ultimate intention of to Treaty House at the request Zealand). the , from of B Lord ledisloe after the This unique relationship theB ritish perspective, was to house was restored in 1933. has birthed a nation slowly A girl examines a traditional Maori carving at the Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre, protect Maori interests from maturing to a point where a near Auckland. Te Hana Te Ao Marama/new zealand tourism the encroaching British settle- Maori culture guides based in Whakatane explain their history NZ cultural icons numberf o races and cultures ment,o t provide for British to visitors. NATIV ConnectioNZ/new zealand tourism The Waitangi Treaty Grounds exist freely, but where Maori the official website of settlement and to establish a are also home to two of the na- retain a strong identity as the Tourism New Zealand. For government to maintain The Maori Council’s actions forestry. Forestry was part of tion’s cultural icons: “Te indigenous people. more information, visit http:// peace and order. slowed down the govern- the package of assets the gov- WhareR unanga” and a cere- newzealand.com/. ment’s sale program and ernment wanted to include in monial “ taua” (war The article is excerpted from Relevance of the Treaty forcedto i t enter into negotia- the sale program. canoe). The treaty has proved to be an tions with Maori. Its argument Over the years there have ‘Te Whare Runanga’ is a enduring document. In 1988 was based on the principle been many settlements with carved Maori meeting house when the Labor government that Maori ceded governor- Maori tribal groups based on erectedo t commemorate the tried to sell off state-owned shipo t the crown or British in the Treaty that have forced centenary of the first signing assets, the New Zealand Maori 1840 when they signed the governments to adopt a more of the Treaty of Waitangi. Council contested its right to Treaty of Waitangi, but not consultative approach when Carvings in the house were do so in the courts. ownership of assets such as developing new policy and produced by the local Nga- regulations. Treaty consider- puhi tribe, though the build- ations are now embedded in ings i representative of all many official policies. Maori tribes. The signing of the Treaty of Ngatokimatawhaorua, one Waitangis i commemorated of the largest Maori waka, sits each year with a national hol- on the grounds. The 70-year- idayn o Feb. 6, known as Wait- old waka has been refurbished angiD ay. aheadf o relaunching as part I n the past, this day has of the 2010 Waitangi Day cel- been tarnished by angry pro- ebrations.A t 35.7 meters long, testss a Maori fought to have upo t 2 meters wide and rights that had been promised weighing2 1 tons, the vessel is to them under the Treaty, an impressive sight on the honouredy b the government. water with a crew of up to 80 However, in recent years, paddlers and 55 passengers. many “iwi” (tribes) have had The Waitangi Treaty their grievances settled by the Grounds are a popular desti- government and Waitangi Day nation for tourists, both do- has become a peaceful cele- mestic and international. The brationf o nationhood. Waitangi Visitor Centre has an impressive audio-visual show Waitangi Treaty Grounds that tells the story of Waitangi I n 1932, the grounds where and surrounding areas. There “Waka” war canoe at Waitangi New zealand tourism the Treaty was first signed are also live cultural perfor-

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