As we approach Waitangi Day, we'll take a closer look at two founding documents - He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene (Declaration of Independence of New Zealand) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will also explore the early relationships between Māori and newcomers.

Why are the two documents so important?

The two documents laid the groundwork for Aoteraroa New Zealand. He Wakaputanga (1835) affirmed Māori sovereignty, while Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840) established a relationship between Māori and the British Crown.

In the next few days we will be sharing more on the two documents and early interactions between Māori and newcomers in a five day Waitangi 2025 series.

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