Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, marking the foundation of New Zealand. It is observed with ceremonies, cultural events, and reflection on the nation's bicultural identity and history.

When is Waitangi Day?

Waitangi Day is observed on February 6 every year.

The following is the list of Waitangi Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Waitangi Day?

On February 6, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands between representatives of the British Crown (led by Captain William Hobson) and more than 40 Māori chiefs.

The treaty was intended to establish British sovereignty while guaranteeing Māori ownership of their lands, forests, and fisheries, and granting them the rights of British subjects.

However, the English and Māori versions differed, leading to disputes over interpretation—especially concerning sovereignty and governance. Over the years, breaches of the treaty fueled conflict, land confiscations, and mistrust between Māori and the Crown.

For decades, the treaty was largely ignored by colonial authorities, and February 6 was not widely commemorated.

The first official celebration took place in 1934, when Governor-General Lord Bledisloe gifted the Treaty House and Waitangi grounds to the nation. This act marked the beginning of formal recognition of Waitangi as a place of national significance.

In 1974, Prime Minister Norman Kirk's government declared Waitangi Day a national public holiday, recognizing it as New Zealand's founding day. Before this, New Zealand's national day was often considered to be New Zealand Day, but the renaming emphasized the importance of the treaty.

From the 1970s onward, Māori protest movements used Waitangi Day to highlight grievances about breaches of the treaty, land rights, and the need for restitution.

Annual commemorations at Waitangi often included demonstrations and calls for justice, making the day both celebratory and contentious. The establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975 allowed investigation into treaty breaches and gave the treaty greater legal and political weight.