Treaty of Waitangi on view at Archives NZ on Waitangi Day

1 February 2012

Treaty of Waitangi on view at Archives New Zealand on Waitangi Day

Wellingtonians and visitors to the capital can see the original 1840 Treaty of Waitangi for free at Archives New Zealand from 10am to 4pm this Waitangi Day, Monday 6 February. Archivists will also be giving talks about the origins and history of the Treaty throughout the day.

“Thousands of New Zealanders nationwide celebrate Waitangi Day. Experiencing the original Tiriti on our national day adds to the special nature of the occasion,” says Chief Archivist Greg Goulding.

“As the official guardian of New Zealand’s public record Archives New Zealand collects, stores and protects a range of material including important heritage documents and the Treaty,” Greg Goulding said.

“People are often surprised to learn te Tiriti is a group of nine documents; seven on paper and two on parchment.

“The sheets have been on display in the Constitution Room since 1991.”

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed on 6 February 1840, but it was also signed in a number of other locations around the country in the following months. These include the Waikato, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, Cook Strait and the East Coast.

Find out more about Te Tiriti at http://www.archives.govt.nz/exhibitions/treaty

ENDS