Every year on 6th February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi as Waitangi Day.
Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people, arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand at least 800–1000 years ago. Pākehā, the European settlers arrived just 250 years ago.
In the year 1840, to give equal power to both Pākehā and Māori, representatives of the British Crown and Māori signed what is often considered to be New Zealand’s founding document.
In 1932 Governor-General Lord Bledisloe gifted the Treaty House and grounds at Waitangi to the nation. In February 1934 Bledisloe's gift was marked by celebrations. Many from the Māori attended the 1934 celebrations, this is marked as the first official Waitangi Day.
Prime Minister Norman Kirk declared that it would be a national holiday starting from 1974 and he renamed Waitangi day, as "New Zealand Day". But the “New Zealand Day” was celebrated for just 2 years, and reverted back to the original name, Waitangi Day, which has stuck on till date.
Below is the Miniature sheet issued by NZ post on 5th February 1974 to commemorate "New Zealand Day".
The top left stamp depicts Treaty House at Waitangi
The bottom left stamp shows the Signing the Treaty of Waitangi
In the middle, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was the chief guest for the 1974 "New Zealand Day"
The top right is the Parliament Buildings and the Beehive
The bottom right is Pakeha and Maori Children Studying Together
Hi. Priya. Very Interesting and informative article.
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