social+studies

=Waitangi day =

=The history of Waitangi day: =

On Febuary 6 1840 the Maori and the European settlers of New Zealand signed a very famous treaty called **The Treaty of Waitangi** in Waitangi in the bay of islands. The treaty made New Zealand part of the British empire, (commonwealth) and let Maori have rights to there land and have the same rights as British subjects.


 * What does this mean for me?? **

Every year we get a day off for this historic treaty. It first became a public holiday in 1974, and since then the popularity of Waitangi has grown. In Auckland for example, there is an annual Waitangi day festival, which is all about culture and tradition........



= = =Also called: New Zealand Day = = = =Observed by: New Zealanders = = = =Significance: The day that the treaty of Waitangi was signed = = = =Date: 6 February =