Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day is a public holiday observed throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and Māori at Waitangi in 1840. The Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of government in New Zealand and the day has been a public holiday since 1974.
Waitangi Day gives us all the opportunity to reflect on this foundation document, which underpins our country’s unique identity, and what it means for each of us and our motu (country).
Waitangi Day 2024 | Whakarongotai Marae Trustees’ Waitangi Commemoration event
As a committed te Tiriti partner, we were proud to support Whakarongotai Marae Trustees under the rangatiratanga of their local iwi Te Āti Awa in welcoming the Kāpiti community to their Te Rau o Te Aroha Waitangi Commemorations held in Waikanae on Saturday 3 February.
He mihi mahana ki a koutou o Whakarongotai Marae. A warm thank you to Whakarongotai Marae Trustees for their manaakitanga providing this event for us all to reflect on our shared history, and the foundation document that underpins our country’s unique identity. The day was well attended and included a mihi whakatau, kapa haka, live and solo entertainment, historical storytelling, high tea, hāngī, and activities for tamariki.
Values of generosity and hospitality came to the fore and it was a great opportunity to learn about the tūpuna (ancestors) and whakapapa of the Whakarongotai Marae.
Waitangi ki Kāpiti video series 2021
As part of our virtual Waitangi Day commemorations in 2021 we made a 5-part video series exploring the relevance of Te Tiriti and people's thoughts on how we commemorate it in our district. We encourage you to watch and share this kōrero as a way to stimulate discussion on what Te Tiriti means for our Kāpiti Coast communities.
Treaty signatories
The tangata whenua of the district are Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, including whānau and hapū. In the 1820–30s they were firmly established in the Kāpiti Coast District and were signatories to te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) at the following locations:
- On board the ship The Ariel at Port Nicholson in Wellington (29 April 1840)
- Queen Charlotte Sounds (4 May 1840)
- Rangitoto (d'Urville Island) (11 May 1840)
- Kāpiti Island (14 May 1840)
- Waikanae (16 May 1840)
- Ōtaki (19 May 1840)
- Manawatū (26 May 1840)
- Motungarara Island (4 June 1840)
- Guard's Bay and Cloudy Bay (Te Koko-a-Kupe) in Te Tau Ihu (17 June 1840)
- Mana Island (19 June 1840), and again on Kāpiti Island (19 June 1840).