Waitangi Treaty Grounds

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The in the spectacular Bay of Islands on New Zealand's north island are the site of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a document conceived by Britain as a means of gaining sovereignty over New Zealand and creating peace and unity between the Maori and early European settlers.



The treaty was originally drafted in English and then translated into Maori by the missionary Henry Williams and his son Edward - the whole process taking less than a week. The task of selling it to the Maori fell to Captain William Hobson.

The Treaty was presented to the Maori at Waitangi on February 5th 1840. The next day, the 43 Northland Chiefs signed, followed by another 500, as it was presented to them right around New Zealand.





Many Chiefs refused to sign, fearing losing their independence and the right to settle their own disputes. Others didn't get the opportunity to sign as they didn't get to see it.

The fact that there were disparities between the English and Maori versions of the Treaty led almost immediately to disputes over just what had been signed away. Successive governments took the view that they had total sovereignty over the Maori, their land and all its resources. The Maori on the other hand believed that they had merely given permission for the British to use their land.

Such disputes eventually led to the Maori Wars and the Treaty remained equally contentious until well into the 20th century.
It wasn't until 1975 that the Waitangi Tribunal was set up and later the Office for Treaty Settlements to address grievances and claims brought by Maori.

Today many New Zealanders still question the relevance of the Treaty and it continues to promote vigorous academic, legal and political discussion.

The are administered by the Waitangi National Trust, whose board is made up of descendants or representatives of people with a direct association to the historic site.



The most prominent features within the grounds are the Flagstaff, the Treaty House, the ornately carved Meeting House and the amazing 'waka' or ceremonial war canoe.

The Treaty House was pre-fabricated in Sydney and shipped to New Zealand in 1834, where it became known as The Residency, the home of Britain's official representative in New Zealand James Busby, his wife and six children.

The original house comprised of a single bedroom, living room, hallway and dressing room with the kitchen, storeroom and servants quarters housed in an adjacent building. With six children, Busby found it necessary to add three bedrooms during the 1840s.

In 1878, local tribes petitioned the New Zealand government to establish a commemorative meetinghouse on the site of the Treaty signing but their approach was refused.

Throughout the early 1900s, local MP Vernon Reed made several unsuccessful attempts to have Waitangi declared an important site for all New Zealanders. That changed though in 1932, when Reed met the Governor General and his wife, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, as they holidayed in the Bay of Islands. Reed persuaded the couple to visit Waitangi and they came away so impressed by its significance that they purchased the entire estate.





On 10th May 1932, Lord Bledisloe notified Prime Minister George Forbes that he intended to gift the Waitangi Estate, the most historic spot in New Zealand, to the nation. That arrangement was formalised on the 6th February 1934, the first Waitangi Day.
Visitors to the Treaty House today can see the bedroom and living room restored to their original 1840 appearance. Other rooms house a number of displays, including the story of the gifting of the Waitangi Estate to the nation by Lord and Lady Bledisloe.

The current flagstaff was erected and rigged by the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1947 and marks the actual spot where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. It replaced the original flagstaff erected for the first Waitangi Commemoration in 1934.
The carved Meeting House, the House of Assembly, Te Whare Runanga, stands directly opposite the Treaty House, the pair symbolising the partnership between the two cultures which forms the basis for the foundation of New Zealand.

The Waitangi Meeting House, though traditional in style, differs from others in that it is not identified with a particular iwi or tribal ancestor.

In other Meeting Houses the head sculpture atop the roof would depict a particular tribal ancestor but at Waitangi, that sculpture is generic and the structure is meant to represent the unity of the Maori people.

Conceived by two prominent Maori, Tau Henare and Sir Apirana Ngata as a contribution to New Zealand's Centenary celebrations, carving of the structure began at Motatau in 1934. The House was officially opened on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 6th February 1940.



Another contribution to the celebration of the Centenary was the Ngapuhi ceremonial war canoe Ngatokimatawhaorua. At first sight, it's almost impossible to imagine this monster floating. At 35 metres in length and weighing 12 tonnes wet this massive vessel requires a crew of 75 paddlers. Construction began in 1937 and the finished canoe was launched in 1940 before being laid up for the next 34 years in a shelter next to the Meeting House.

During Queen Elizabeth's visit to New Zealand in 1974, the waka was renovated and its present shelter, Te Korowai o Maikuku, was built on the shore to house it. Following a short trip in the canoe, the Queen bestowed upon it the title Her Majesty's Ship.

A visit to the is a must for anyone visiting this part of New Zealand's north island. The most historic site in the whole of New Zealand the Treaty Grounds also provide a great insight into Maori culture, everything from a traditional powhiri or welcome to a variety of cultural performances, some in the traditional and magnificent Meeting House.

The Treaty Grounds are open daily except for Christmas Day from 9 AM to 5 PM or 7 PM from December to February. During current COVID restrictions, visitors will need to provide a valid COVID vaccine certificate.

The Waitangi Experience Pass provides entry to Te K& #333 ;ngahu Museum of Waitangi and Te Rau Aroha museum, an informative 50-minute guided tour of the Treaty Grounds and an authentic M& #257 ;ori cultural performance lasting 30-minutes costs Adult international visitors $60, Adult New Zealand residents $30 and children up to 18-years of age FREE.



Getting There …..

are 234-Kilometres north of Auckland, about a 3-hour 20-minute drive via State Highway 1. They are 2-minute drive or short 3-kilometre walk from Paihia in the Bay of Islands.



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