Why is February 6 celebrated as Waitangi Day in New Zealand?

February 6 is celebrated as Waitangi Day in New Zealand to mark the anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) in 1840.12

Negotiated at Waitangi between British consul William Hobson and various Māori chiefs, the treaty was intended to establish a legal framework for British settlement, protect Māori resources, and provide Māori with the rights of British subjects. However, the document contained significant discrepancies between its English and Māori versions regarding the nature of British sovereignty, leading to long-standing historical grievances.13

Since 1960, the date has been observed as the country’s national day. While it serves as an occasion for thanksgiving and public celebration, it has also become a time for national reflection on the historical impact of European settlement and the ongoing efforts to address the treaty's conflicting interpretations through the Treaty of Waitangi Act and its associated tribunal.123