Waitangi Treaty Grounds - A Glimpse into New Zealand's Past

In a small town in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand stands a flagstaff on a hill. It’s an unassuming spot, but one of the most important sites in New Zealand history. This is where the Treaty of Waitangi – what is seen as the founding document of New Zealand – was signed on February 6, 1840 in the spot where this flagstaff now stands…

The interesting thing about the treaty was that it was a supposed “agreement” between the Maori chiefs and the British, but translations for both sides never really matched up, and there was a lot of uncertainty as to what was actually agreed to. The British believed that the treaty meant they had complete sovereignty over the land, but the Maori chiefs believed they were only giving permission for the British to use some of their land. This led to much conflict as the British took more and more land, but New Zealand was now an official British colony.

Despite the disagreements that ensued about the Treaty, February 6th became New Zealand’s national holiday, widely celebrated by the whole country with cultural performances, barbecues and more.

I took a tour of the grounds and also got to experience one of the best Maori culture shows I’ve ever seen (and attempted to become part of their tribe). I loved getting to embrace the kiwi culture. This was one of the best, most engaging experiences I had in New Zealand I would recommend this experience over any other tour in the country. Mostly overlooked by tourists, if you’re looking for an “off-the-beaten-path” cultural & historical experience, Waitangi is one of the best.