Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day is New Zealand’s national day, observed each year on 6 February to commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, commonly known in English as the Treaty of Waitangi, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands in 1840. The agreement was initially signed by representatives of the British Crown and a number of Māori rangatira, or chiefly leaders, before being taken to communities throughout the country for further signatures. The Māori and English texts differ in important ways, particularly concerning sovereignty, authority, and governance, making the treaty both a founding document and a continuing source of legal, political, and cultural debate.

The day was first marked nationally as a public holiday in 1974 under the name New Zealand Day. The name was changed back to Waitangi Day in 1976, reflecting the importance of the original place and treaty. Since then, the commemoration has developed beyond a simple celebration of nationhood: it is also a time to consider the Crown–Māori relationship, historical injustices, the status of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, and progress toward partnership and reconciliation. Waitangi Day became a permanent public holiday throughout New Zealand in 1974, and under the Holidays Act’s Mondayisation provisions it is observed on the following Monday when 6 February falls on a weekend; in 2026, it falls on Friday, 6 February.

Official commemorations are centred on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where events commonly include dawn services, karakia or prayers, pōwhiri welcoming ceremonies, speeches, kapa haka performances, waiata, and the arrival of waka. Members of the public may attend cultural festivals, local ceremonies, concerts, exhibitions, and educational programmes across the country. The day can also include peaceful marches, political speeches, and public discussion, as many New Zealanders use it to express differing views about the treaty’s meaning and the country’s social and constitutional future.

Family and community gatherings often feature a relaxed summer atmosphere, with outdoor meals such as hāngī, barbecued food, seafood, salads, and locally produced fruit. Māori cultural practices, including whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, waiata, and the sharing of kai, are especially significant at gatherings and commemorations. There is no single universally fixed greeting, but “Happy Waitangi Day” is common in informal settings, while “Ngā mihi o Waitangi Day” conveys respectful greetings in te reo Māori. Because the occasion carries both celebratory and solemn meanings, many people prefer acknowledgements such as “I acknowledge Waitangi Day” or use the day to learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its continuing significance.