Waitangi Day

The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Maori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand.
The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects.
However the English and Maori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and as such there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed and is thus a source of much frustration and anger for many native Maori who feel their ancestors were wronged by the document.

However, what is today generally considered is, that it is the founding document of New Zealand as a nation. That makes NZ, the youngest country in the world, 170 years old today!! Happy Waitangi Day to all the friends and whanau back in NZ!!!

One of the signatories, Hone Heke, with his wife Hariata