Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day is a New Zealand public holiday which commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. It is analogous to Independence Day in that it recognizes the birth of a new nation and/or commemorates the ending of hostilities that allows a nation to move forward as a country. There is some tension surrounding the day as some Māori feel that the treaty has not been honoured.^[1]

A ceremony is held at the original site of signing in Waitangi, New Zealand. Traditionally, the Prime Minister is in attendance, but incidents in the past have led to the government being unwelcome on certain dates. Protests at Waitangi are common, and previous Waitangi Day ceremonies have seen the Prime Minister and government officials pelted with mud and even assaulted.^[2]

Previous Names[edit]

In 1974 the Labour Government announced that the day was being renamed to 'New Zealand Day'. Shortly after in 1975 New Zealand Day was reverted to Waitangi Day as the name held greater significance with the New Zealand people.^[3]

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/waitangi-day/21st-century-waitangi-day
2. ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/1391873
3. ↑ http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/waitangi-day/waitangi-day-1970s