WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS

It was here, 2 km from Paihia, that New Zealand was born as a nation, and this site is one of the most important in the country's history and culture. You should plan to spend half a day here to really enjoy it. On this hill overlooking the Bay of Islands and offering superb panoramic views of the surrounding area, between 43 and 46 Maori rangatira chiefs gathered on February 6, 1840 to sign the Te Tiriti o Waitangi with the British Crown and mark the beginning of a new era, which would then see Queen Victoria's sovereignty proclaimed over the country through Captain Hobson. Long and bitter debates ensued before over five hundred signatures were affixed across the two islands, with translation problems still raising questions today. The Treaty of Waitangi consists of three articles, the actual terms of which are still open to interpretation.

A visit to the Treaty Grounds will reveal everything you need to know about this major event, its protagonists, the many negotiations and misunderstandings it gave rise to, and its consequences. On site, in the heart of the green countryside, you'll discover a modern, well-informed museum, with objects and documents from the period, as well as an explanatory video.

The discovery continues with a fifty-minuteguided tour of the entire estate, from James Busby's Treaty House to the Carved Meeting House (Te Whare Rūnanga), via the gigantic Ngātokimatawhaorua, the longest waka (canoe) in the country at 35 meters long and with a maximum capacity of 130 people on board. This waka required three large kauris (a species of tree sacred and endemic to Te Ika-a-Maui). It was on a waka like this that the first Polynesians arrived. Equipped with an audioguide, you'll enjoy your guide's animations and anecdotes about Maori culture, the origin of the two national flags, relations between the first Europeans and the locals, a sharing of knowledge about Aotearoa's flora and fauna, and much more. You need to book for this guided tour at the following times: 10am, 12pm, 2pm or 3:30pm.

The other highlight of your visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds will undoubtedly be the half-hour cultural performance, which includes an impressive traditional haka and a moment of dance, song and music. As with the guided tour, you'll need to book a slot between 11am, 1pm or 3pm.