Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand, and is named after the location in The Bay of Islands where it was first signed on the 6th of February in 1840. This day is now the national holiday of New Zealand or Waitangi Day. The treaty is an agreement made between the British Crown and about 540 Maori chiefs or rangatira. It is written in both English and Maori languages. The treaty is a statement of principles on which the British and Maori elders established a political pact to found a nation and build a government in New Zealand. There are three articles in the treaty: the Maori ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain, that the Maori gave the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wished to sell, and in return, they were guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions and that Maori would have the rights and privileges of British subjects. Today the treaty is not part of New Zealand domestic law (except where its principles are referred to in Acts of Parliament) but often New Zealanders refer to the intention, spirit or principles of the Treaty.