The Treaty of Waitangi - Te Tiriti o Waitangi

A DigitalNZ Story by Donna Robertson

The Treaty of Waitangi - New Zealand's founding document - was signed on 6 February 1840.

treaty, Treaty, Waitangi, Treaty of Waitangi, tiriti, new zealand, waitangi day, treaty claims, protest, aotearoa, sovereignty, Tino rangatiratanga

Image: Amster Reedy acting in a recreation of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Amster Reedy acting in a recreation of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Treaty of Waitangi

Treaty of Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Treaty House, Waitangi

Treaty House, Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Treaty House, Waitangi

Treaty House, Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: [New Zealand Post Office] :Centennial of the Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 6th February, 1840. Waitangi carved memorial meeting house, Bay of Islands [First day cover. 1940]

[New Zealand Post Office] :Centennial of the Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 6th February, 1840. Waitangi carved memorial meeting house, Bay of ...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Spectators at Waitangi treaty celebrations, Waitangi

Spectators at Waitangi treaty celebrations, Waitangi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Spectators at Waitangi treaty celebrations, Waitangi

Spectators at Waitangi treaty celebrations, Waitangi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Spectators at Waitangi treaty celebrations, Waitangi

Spectators at Waitangi treaty celebrations, Waitangi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Treaty of Waitangi Memorial at Te Tii marae, Waitangi

Treaty of Waitangi Memorial at Te Tii marae, Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Treaty of Waitangi Monument, Te Tii Marae grounds, Waitangi

Treaty of Waitangi Monument, Te Tii Marae grounds, Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Plaque, Waitangi

Plaque, Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Waitangi protest

Waitangi protest

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Signing the Treaty of Waitangi

Signing the Treaty of Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Signing the Treaty of Waitangi

Signing the Treaty of Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Invoking the Treaty of Waitangi

Invoking the Treaty of Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975

Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Treaty of Waitangi (in Maori)

The Treaty of Waitangi (in Maori)

Auckland Libraries

Image: Treaty House and grounds, Waitangi

Treaty House and grounds, Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Plaque to commemorate the Treaty of Waitangi

Plaque to commemorate the Treaty of Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Flagstaff to commemorate the Treaty of Waitangi

Flagstaff to commemorate the Treaty of Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Waitangi Tribunal, 2010

Waitangi Tribunal, 2010

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The three articles of the Treaty of Waitangi

The three articles of the Treaty of Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Waitangi Crown, 1935

Waitangi Crown, 1935

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Winter, Mark 1958- :The Treaty of Waitangi... 1 February 2012

Winter, Mark 1958- :The Treaty of Waitangi... 1 February 2012

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Antipodean Pictorial. Preparation of the Treaty of Waitangi, Hobson and Busby

Antipodean Pictorial. Preparation of the Treaty of Waitangi, Hobson and Busby

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Kapa haka group performing in front of Treaty House, Waitangi

Kapa haka group performing in front of Treaty House, Waitangi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Waitangi Day: Protest, 1990

Waitangi Day: Protest, 1990

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Eamonn Bolger with diary of Treaty of Waitangi witness - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Eamonn Bolger with diary of Treaty of Waitangi witness - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Rev Jane Brookes and the Rev Earle Howe read the Treaty of Waitangi - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

The Rev Jane Brookes and the Rev Earle Howe read the Treaty of Waitangi - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lord & Lady Bledisloe announce the gift of land and Treaty House at Waitangi to the nation 1932

Lord & Lady Bledisloe announce the gift of land and Treaty House at Waitangi to the nation 1932

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: William Hobson memorial plaque at Waitangi

William Hobson memorial plaque at Waitangi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: DISCUSSING THE TREATY OF WAITANGI: GATHERING OF MAORIS AT WAHAROA, WAIKATO, AUCKLAND, TO MEET HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNER, LORD PLUNKET, AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND, MARCH 18, 1908

DISCUSSING THE TREATY OF WAITANGI: GATHERING OF MAORIS AT WAHAROA, WAIKATO, AUCKLAND, TO MEET HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNER, LORD PLUNKET, AND THE PR...

Auckland Libraries

Image: Tableau, re-enacting the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, at the East and West Missionary Exhibition, Wellington Town Hall

Tableau, re-enacting the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, at the East and West Missionary Exhibition, Wellington Town Hall

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ngai Tahu treaty settlement, 1997

Ngai Tahu treaty settlement, 1997

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Creating understanding about the Treaty

Creating understanding about the Treaty

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Ngāi Tahu treaty settlement

The Ngāi Tahu treaty settlement

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Scenes at the celebrations on Tuesday marking the hundredth anniversary of'the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, at which the Governor-General, Lord Galway, officially opened the neio Maori meeting house. Top left, his Excellency .speaking in front of the whare-runanga. Top right, Captain Hobson and Mr, Busby, leading characters in the re-enacting of the signing of. the Treaty. Below, members of the Maori Battalion marching to the ceremony. (Evening Post, 08 February 1940)

Scenes at the celebrations on Tuesday marking the hundredth anniversary of'the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, at which the Governor-General, Lo...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: The ABC of flags. 15 December 2009

The ABC of flags. 15 December 2009

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Artist unknown :[Reconstruction of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. ca 1940 or 1930s]

Artist unknown :[Reconstruction of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. ca 1940 or 1930s]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mitchell, Leonard Cornwall, 1901-1971 :[A reconstruction of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 1840]. 1949.

Mitchell, Leonard Cornwall, 1901-1971 :[A reconstruction of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 1840]. 1949.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: McDonald, James Ingram 1865-1935 :[Captain William Hobson] 1913.

McDonald, James Ingram 1865-1935 :[Captain William Hobson] 1913.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Governor William Hobson

Governor William Hobson

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Thomas Bunbury

Thomas Bunbury

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Treaty House, Waitangi

The Treaty House, Waitangi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Photograph of Apirana Ngata taking the lead in a haka on Waitangi Day at the centennial celebrations at Waitangi, taken by Bert Snowden

Photograph of Apirana Ngata taking the lead in a haka on Waitangi Day at the centennial celebrations at Waitangi, taken by Bert Snowden

Alexander Turnbull Library