Waitangi Day in New Zealand (06/02)

Waitangi Day, celebrated annually on February 6, is considered New Zealand's national day. On this day in 1840, on the banks of the Waitangi River (translated from Maori as — noisy waters), the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British and Maori — by the indigenous people of New Zealand —. A treaty that forever sowed friction between Maori and European settlers.

The story goes that by the late 19th century, dishonest trade and illegal land buying and selling flourished in New Zealand. Serious competition, among other things, came from French immigrants.

The British Empire promised to deal with the atrocities and return the Maori to their land, as well as equal rights with the British. In exchange for this, the Maori, who were the main population of the country before the Europeans arrived here, were offered to accept British citizenship.

The treaty that included these proposals was signed on February 6, 1840 between William Hobson (1792–1842), the first governor of New Zealand to represent the interests of the British Crown, and Maori chiefs. In May 1840, New Zealand officially became part of the British Empire.

The text of the treaty was drafted in English and translated into Maori. The inaccuracy of the translation and the lack of a large number of legal and political terms in the Maori language have given rise to great differences in the interpretation of treaty rights. In addition, not all Maori leaders agreed to the signing of the treaty, that is, no unanimous decision was made. Today there are a large number of opponents of Waitangi Day celebrations who consider the treaty dishonest towards Maori.

Despite ongoing disputes and friction, Waitangi Day is celebrated throughout the country. The festival program is full of concerts, presentations of Maori cultural heritage, exhibitions and outdoor games. The holiday acquired such a wide scope in the 30s of the last century after Lord Bledisloe, the governor of New Zealand, bought the plot of land on which James Busby's house stood (the place where the treaty was signed), and in 1934 gave it to the nation as a symbol of the unification of all New Zealanders. Since 1974, Waitangi Day has been a public holiday.

The most magnificent celebrations take place on the banks of the Waitangi River. At dawn on 6 February, the New Zealand flag-raising ceremony is held there. The contract signing scene is played out. Maori in traditional canoes and ships of the New Zealand fleet gather in the Bay of Islands, representatives of the two sides land and gather in a clearing near J.'s house. Busby.

After the opening speeches, celebrations begin. You can visit the museum, see folk dances, listen to music, watch and even take part in traditional Maori ceremonies.

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