Treaty of Waitangi: Signs of a Nation
Discover how the Treaty has shaped relationships between the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand.
On now
Permanent exhibition
Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga
Te Tiriti o WaitangiThe Treaty of Waitangi
It is celebrated and argued over. It contains contradictions, and yet it offers clarity. It has a rocky past, but it is providing New Zealanders with new ways forward. It is the Treaty of Waitangi – this nation’s founding agreement.
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Kei te whakanuia kei te tautohetia. Ōna tika, ōna hē, heoi kei te tuku whakamārama. Hē uaua ōna wā ki muri, engari, he tohu ‘hīkoi whakamua’ mō Aotearoa. Kō te Tiriti ō Waitangi te tuhinga matua mō tēnei whenua.
Māori and the British
Learn how relationships between Māori and the British developed and led to the signing of the Treaty in 1840.
The Treaty of Waitangi up close
Find out what the Treaty said, and see why it has caused so much debate – both in 1840 when it was signed and now.
Further reading about the Treaty of Waitangi
Find further reading about the Treaty timeline, the taonga of the Treaty Grounds, and reading resources from other publications and websites.
See the original Treaty of Waitangi
Visit the original Treaty of Waitangi at the National Library of New Zealand, explore the stories of Te Tiriti, and get to know the people who signed the document.
Treaty of Waitangi learning resources
Watch interviews, download activity books and learn more about the Treaty of Waitangi and what it means to all New Zealanders.
Treaty Talks – a visual podcast
Treaty Talks is a visual podcast hosted by Kara Rickard that dives deep into the history and impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The series aims to cover the essentials of this crucial agreement between Māori and the Crown.
This series is hosted on the RNZ website.
Listen: The 2005 to 2015 Treaty Debates on RNZ
From 2005 to 2015, RNZ broadcast a series of annual public debates on the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand society and history. Under the direction of Dr Claudia Orange at Te Papa Tongarewa, these debates analyse a wide range of issues looking back into our history and forward into the future. Featuring expert participants with an extensive knowledge of their subject matter, the discussions provide a unique insight into how our nation is continuing to redefine itself.
