Waitangi Day: A Celebration of New Zealand’s History

Questa giornata è una festa annuale celebrata in Nuova Zelanda per commemorare la firma del trattato tra il popolo maori e la corona britannica nel 1840. Scopriamo come viene celebrata e cosa rappresenta oggi per il Paese.

Sarah Davison

Bandera UK
Sarah Davison

Speaker (UK accent)

Aggiornato il giorno

Waitangi Day

Ascolta questo articolo

Stampare

Waitangi Day is an annual public holiday celebrated in New Zealand / Aotearoa every 6 February. It commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Considered New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi — Te Tiriti o Waitangi in te reo Māori (the Maori language) — was an agreement between Māori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown. It established the framework for a relationship between the government and Māori people and it continues to be a guide for the treatment of New Zealand’s Māori population today.

EARLY ARRIVALS

The first European settlers to arrive in New Zealand / Aotearoa were sealers and whalers, followed by missionaries and merchants. The merchants traded natural resources, such as flax and tinder, for guns, and clothing and other products with the local tribes. With the arrival of multiple immigrant settlers, Māori chiefs sought to protect themselves by making alliances with the British. 

five hundred chiefs

The Treaty of Waitangi is named after the site where the agreement was made, in the Bay of Islands in the country’s far north. The document was originally signed by forty-three Māori chiefs, with more than five hundred chiefs across New Zealand adding their signatures over an eight month period. The treaty was written in both English and Māori. However, differences in its translation led to misunderstandings about the promises it made. This caused serious disagreements over its terms.

COLONIAL CULTURE

Well into the 20th century, Māori felt pressured to assimilate into the colonial culture while struggling to preserve their own traditions. Since the 1950s, Māori have taken a firmer stance to defend their rights. The first official commemoration of Waitangi Day took place in 1934 but it only became a public holiday in 1974. While for many it is a celebration, for Māori it can be a day of sadness or outrage at more than a century of colonial plunder and oppression. Today, many Māori use the day to grieve the loss of their land, language and culture. Increasingly, though, Waitangi Day also represents hope for greater understanding and unity.

PRESENT AND FUTURE

Waitangi Day commemorates the past and the present, and looks forward to the future. It highlights ongoing efforts to honour Māori heritage, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. As New Zealand / Aotearoa grows as a diverse and inclusive society, Waitangi Day remains a powerful reminder of the nation’s identity and the shared commitment to honouring its founding document. 

ITA 00 Cover 479

Questo articolo appartiene al numero February 2025 della rivista Speak Up.

Tom’s Guide to London: Modern Tourism
AdobeStock

Places

Tom’s Guide to London: Modern Tourism

Se conosci bene Londra e pensi che non ti rimane niente di nuovo da vedere, entra nel sito di Tom: vedrai che nella capitale britannica ci sono mille cose da fare, mille angoli da scoprire.

Louise Johnson

The King of Cheesesteaks: Philadelphia

Culture

The King of Cheesesteaks: Philadelphia

Oltre ai cimeli più preziosi della storia degli Stati Uniti, Philadelphia custodisce anche una tradizione culinaria: la leggendaria cheesesteak, che non è una bistecca ma un panino con carne e formaggio. Fu inventato negli anni ‘30 da Pat Olivieri, un immigrato italiano arrivato negli States dall’Abruzzo.

Donatella Mulvoni

More in Explore

Sentence Structure in English: Rules and Common Mistakes
iStock

Grammar

Sentence Structure in English: Rules and Common Mistakes

Imparare a costruire frasi in inglese può sembrare complicato all'inizio, ma una volta che comprendi la struttura di base, diventa molto più facile. Ti offriamo una guida semplice per iniziare a scrivere le tue frasi.

Natalie Gommon

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

A Short Story: Frost Fair

Fiction

A Short Story: Frost Fair

Lo spettacolo del Tamigi ghiacciato trasforma Londra in uno scenario unico, dove una storia di amicizia inizialmente meravigliosa si trasforma rapidamente in un incubo.

Rachel Roberts

Sentence Structure in English: Rules and Common Mistakes
iStock

Grammar

Sentence Structure in English: Rules and Common Mistakes

Imparare a costruire frasi in inglese può sembrare complicato all'inizio, ma una volta che comprendi la struttura di base, diventa molto più facile. Ti offriamo una guida semplice per iniziare a scrivere le tue frasi.

Natalie Gommon