New Zealand • February 6, 2026 • Friday
Also known as: Waitangi Day
Ko te Rā o Waitangi te rā motuhake o Aotearoa, he rā e whakanui ana i te hainatanga o Te Tiriti o Waitangi i te tau 1840. He rā tēnei e whakakotahi ana i te motu katoa ki te whakaaroaro ki tō tātou hitori, ki te titiro whakamuri ki ngā hononga i waenga i te Karauna me te iwi Māori, me te kōkiri whakamua hei kōtahitanga. Ehara noa iho i te rā whakatā, engari he rā e kī ana i te kōrero, i te hākinakina, i te tūmanako, me te whakapono ki ngā tikanga i tūhono i a tātou hei iwi kotahi i raro i te mana o te tiriti tuapapa o te motu.
I ia tau, i te 6 o Pepuere, ka huri te aro o te motu ki Waitangi, kei te Te Tai Tokerau. Koinei te wāhi i hui ai te hunga whai mana o tērā wā ki te haina i te pukapuka e kīia nei ko te tuhinga tūāpapa o Aotearoa. He rā tēnei e kitea ai te rereketanga o ngā whakaaro—he rā whakanui mo ētahi, he rā mautohe mo ētahi atu, engari ko te mea nui, he rā e kōrero ai tātou mō te tuakiri o tēnei whenua. He mea motuhake te Rā o Waitangi nā te mea ka tūhono i te ao Māori me te ao Pākehā, e whakaatu ana i te manaakitanga, i te whanaungatanga, me te tautohetohe hoki e ora tonu ai te hā o te hitori i roto i te ao tūroa.
He rā tēnei mō te whānau, mō te hapori, me te hāpai i ngā kōrero tuku iho. Mai i ngā hīkoi i te ata hāpara ki te waitohu i te rā i Waitangi, ki ngā huihuinga hapori i ngā pāka puta noa i te motu, he rā tēnei e whakaatu ana i te kanorau o Aotearoa. Ahakoa kei hea koe, ko te hā o te rā he mea hāngai ki te pupuri i te mauri o te tiriti me te whakamahara ki ngā tūpuna i whakatakoto i te ara mō tātou i ēnei rā.
Ko te Rā o Waitangi ka hinga i te rā:
Rā o te wiki: Friday Rā o te marama: February 6, 2026 Te roa e toe ana: 34 ngā rā e toe ana.
He rā pūmau te Rā o Waitangi, ka whakanuia i te 6 o Pepuere i ia tau. Heoi, ki te taka te rā ki te Rāhoroi, ki te Rātapu rānei, ka nukuhia te rā whakatā ki te Rāhina (Mane) e whai ake ana, kia mōhio ai te hunga mahi ka whiwhi rātou i te rā whakatā utu. Mo te tau 2026, ka whakanuia i runga i te rā tonu i te mea he rā mahi noa iho i te wiki.
Ko te hitori o te Rā o Waitangi he mea hōhonu, he mea uaua hoki i ētahi wā. I te 6 o Pepuere 1840, i te papa i mua i te whare o James Busby i Waitangi, i hui tahi te rōpū o ngā rangatira Māori me ngā māngai o te Karauna o Ingarangi (te Kuini o Ingarangi i tērā wā). Ko William Hobson te mema matua mō te Karauna. I taua rā, tata ki te 45 ngā rangatira Māori i haina i te Tiriti o Waitangi. I roto i ngā marama e whitu i muri mai, ka huri te tiriti i te motu katoa, ā, tata ki te 540 ngā rangatira i haina i ngā kape rerekē.
Ko te kaupapa o te Tiriti he whakatū i te mana whakahaere o Ingarangi ki runga i te whenua, i te wā tonu e kī ana ka tiakina ngā mana me ngā rawa o te iwi Māori. Engari, he rerekētanga nui kei waenga i te tuhinga reo Māori (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) me te tuhinga reo Ingarangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). I te reo Māori, i kī te tiriti ka pupuri ngā rangatira i tō rātou "tino rangatiratanga" ki runga i ō rātou whenua me ō rātou taonga, engari i te reo Ingarangi, i kī te tuhinga kei te hoatu i te "sovereignty" (te mana motuhake) ki te Kuini. Ko tēnei rerekētanga i whakatakoto i te kaupapa mō ngā tautohetohe me ngā pakanga whenua i puta mai i muri mai.
Mō tētahi wā roa, kīhai te rā i whakanuia hei rā motu. No te tau 1934 rawa i tīmata ai te whakanui i te rā hei kaupapa ā-motu, i muri i te koha a te Kāwana Tianara, a Lord Bledisloe, i te whare o James Busby (te Treaty House) me ngā whenua o Waitangi ki te iwi o Aotearoa hei tohu whakamaharatanga. I hiahia ia kia noho tēnei wāhi hei tohu mō te kotahitanga o te Māori me te Pākehā.
I te tau 1974, i raro i te mana o te rōpū Reipa me te Pirimia a Norman Kirk, ka whakatūria te Rā o Waitangi hei rā whakatā ā-motu. Mō tētahi wā poto, i kīia ko "New Zealand Day" (te Rā o Aotearoa), engari i hoki anō ki te ingoa "Waitangi Day" i te tau 1976 i raro i te kāwanatanga o te rōpū Nāhinara, hei whakaute i te ingoa o te wāhi i hainatia ai te tiriti.
He rerekē te whakanui a tēnā, a tēnā i te Rā o Waitangi. Ko te tino pūtake o ngā kaupapa katoa kei Waitangi tonu, i te Bay of Islands.
I te roanga o te rā, he maha ngā mahi whakangahau: Kapa Haka: He whakaaturanga kanikani, waiata hoki e whakaatu ana i te mana me te ataahua o te kaupapa Māori. Waka: Ka kitea ngā waka taua e hoe ana i te moana, he tirohanga whakamiharo tēnei e whakaatu ana i te kaha o ngā tikanga whakatere waka a te Māori. Kōrero me te Tautohetohe: He wāhi hoki te marae o Waitangi mō te kōrero tōrangapū. He maha ngā wā ka tū ngā tautohetohe mō ngā take tiriti me ngā kaupapa Māori o te rā.
Mēnā ka haere koe ki tētahi huihuinga i te Rā o Waitangi, ina rā ko tētahi e tū ana ki runga marae, he mea nui kia mōhio koe ki ētahi tikanga:
Ae, he rā whakatā tūmatanui te Rā o Waitangi i Aotearoa katoa. Ko te tikanga o tēnei:
Ngā Kura me ngā Whare Wānanga: Ka kati katoa ngā kura me ngā whare wānanga i tēnei rā. Ngā Tari Kāwanatanga: Ka kati ngā tari katoa o te kāwanatanga. Ngā Pakihi: He maha ngā pakihi ka kati, engari ko ngā toa kai (supermarkets) me ngā wharekai ka tuwhera tonu i ētahi wā, ahakoa he rerekē pea ngā haora mahi. Pūtea Taapiri (Surcharge): Kia mahara, he maha ngā wharekai me ngā kawhe ka tāpiri i te 15% surcharge ki te pire i ngā rā whakatā tūmatanui hei utu i ngā kaimahi i runga i te ture "time and a half". Ngā Kawenga Tūmatanui (Public Transport): Ka rere ngā pahi me ngā tereina i runga i te rārangi rā whakatā (holiday schedule), nō reira he iti iho ngā ratonga i te rā noa.
Mēnā he kaimahi koe, e ai ki te ture o Aotearoa, mēnā ka mahi koe i te Rā o Waitangi, me utu koe ki te "time and a half" (te utu mahi me te haurua anō o taua utu), ā, ka whiwhi koe i tētahi atu rā whakatā utu hei whakakapi (a day in lieu), mēnā he rā mahi noa tēnei mōu.
Mēnā kei te toro koe ki Aotearoa i te wā o te Rā o Waitangi, he waahi pai tēnei ki te kite i te tino hā o te motu. Anei ētahi tohutohu:
Haere ki Waitangi: Mēnā ka taea, haere ki te Bay of Islands. He mea whakamiharo te kite i te huihuinga nui rawa atu o te motu i te wāhi tonu i tīmata ai te katoa. Me whakarite wawe i tō nohonga (accommodation) i te mea ka kī katoa ngā hotera me ngā motel i te marama o Pepuere. Kia rite mō te rā: He rā raumati te 6 o Pepuere. He tino wera te rā i te taha ki te raki (tata ki te 20-25°C, i ētahi wā ka piki ake). Mauhia te pōtae, te sunscreen, me te inu wai i ngā wā katoa. Whakaute i te mautohe: Kaua e mataku mēnā ka kite koe i te hīkoi mautohe. He wāhanga tēnei o te manapori o Aotearoa. Whakarongo, mātakitaki, engari kaua e whakakino i te kaupapa.
I ēnei rā, ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi te tūāpapa o te maha o ngā ture me ngā kaupapa here i Aotearoa. Ko te Taraipiunara o Waitangi (Waitangi Tribunal) tētahi rōpū i whakatūria i te tau 1975 hei tirotiro i ngā takahitanga o te tiriti i ngā tau i muri mai i te 1840. He mahi nui tā rātou ki te whakatika i ngā hē o mua me te rapu huarahi hei utu i ngā iwi i ngaro ai ō rātou whenua me ō rātou rawa.
Ko te Rā o Waitangi he wā mō te motu katoa ki te mōhio he "iwi tiriti" tātou katoa—ko te hunga i haina i te tuatahi, me te hunga katoa i haere mai ki tēnei whenua i muri mai i raro i te mana o taua tiriti. He rā tēnei mō te whakawhitiwhiti kōrero mō te āhua o tō tātou noho tahi hei iwi kotahi i roto i te kanorau.
Ko te Rā o Waitangi he rā whakahirahira e tūhono ana i te hitori o mua ki te tūmanako mō te anamata. He rā e whakanui ana i te hainatanga o te Tiriti o Waitangi i te February 6, 2026, 2026. Ahakoa he rā whakatā, he rā whakangahau hoki, ko tōna tino pūtake ko te whakaaroaro ki te hononga i waenga i te Māori me te Karauna, me te kōkiri whakamua hei motu e whakaute ana i ngā mana o te tangata whenua me te hunga katoa e kī ana ko Aotearoa tō rātou kāinga.
Nō reira, i te Friday o Pepuere, ahakoa kei te taha moana koe e whakatā ana,
Common questions about Waitangi Day in New Zealand
Waitangi Day will be observed on Friday, February 6, 2026. There are currently 34 days remaining until the next celebration. This annual event marks the anniversary of the first signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, which serves as the founding document of New Zealand. Because it falls on a weekday in 2026, the commemorations and the public holiday will take place on the actual date itself rather than being Mondayised.
Yes, Waitangi Day is a nationwide public holiday in New Zealand. It was first established as a national holiday in 1974. On this day, schools, banks, post offices, and most government offices are closed. While many supermarkets and cafes remain open, they may operate with limited hours and public transport usually runs on a Sunday or holiday schedule. If the holiday falls on a weekend, it is 'Mondayised' to the following Monday, but in 2026 it will be observed on the Friday.
The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) was first signed on February 6, 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. It was an agreement between representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs. The document aimed to establish British sovereignty while protecting Māori rights to their lands and resources. However, differences between the English and Māori versions of the text have led to ongoing debates regarding colonization and the partnership between Māori and the Crown, making it a central focus of New Zealand's legal and social history.
Observances are a mix of celebration, reflection, and political discussion. At the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, ceremonies include a dawn service, Māori flag-raising, and speeches by political leaders. Across the country, many New Zealanders attend community festivals, Māori hui (social gatherings), and kapa haka performances. While some people use the day to enjoy the summer weather at the beach, others participate in historical reflections or attend citizenship ceremonies to welcome new Kiwis to the nation.
A key tradition is the pōwhiri (formal welcome) and kapa haka performances involving traditional Māori singing and dancing. At Waitangi, large ceremonial waka (canoes) are often launched into the water. Another significant custom is the dawn service at the Te Whare Rūnanga (meeting house), which involves prayers and hymns. Many events also feature a hāngī, where food is cooked in an earth oven, representing a time for sharing and community connection.
Waitangi Day is not just a celebration but also a day for political activism. Māori activists often use the occasion to highlight breaches of the Treaty and to call for the government to better honor its principles. These protests focus on issues such as land rights, Māori sovereignty, and the impacts of colonization. These demonstrations are an important part of the day's identity, reflecting the ongoing conversation about New Zealand’s past and its future direction.
Visitors to Waitangi can expect a vibrant atmosphere filled with cultural performances, markets, and educational displays. It is a busy event, so it is recommended to book travel and accommodation well in advance. Visitors should respect local protocols, such as removing hats when entering buildings and remaining silent during formal speeches. The weather is typically warm, ranging from 20-25°C, so sun protection is essential. It is also important to be respectful of the various viewpoints and protests that may occur during the official events.
The path to becoming a national holiday began in 1934 when Governor-General Lord Bledisloe gifted the Treaty House and grounds to the nation as a memorial. In 1960, the Waitangi Day Act was passed, but it wasn't until 1974 that it became a paid public holiday for the whole country. For a brief period in the 1970s, it was renamed 'New Zealand Day' to emphasize national unity, but the name was changed back to Waitangi Day in 1976 to restore the focus to the original treaty signing.
Waitangi Day dates in New Zealand from 2010 to 2025
| Year | Day of Week | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday | February 6, 2025 |
| 2024 | Tuesday | February 6, 2024 |
| 2023 | Monday | February 6, 2023 |
| 2022 | Sunday | February 6, 2022 |
| 2021 | Saturday | February 6, 2021 |
| 2020 | Thursday | February 6, 2020 |
| 2019 | Wednesday | February 6, 2019 |
| 2018 | Tuesday | February 6, 2018 |
| 2017 | Monday | February 6, 2017 |
| 2016 | Saturday | February 6, 2016 |
| 2015 | Friday | February 6, 2015 |
| 2014 | Thursday | February 6, 2014 |
| 2013 | Wednesday | February 6, 2013 |
| 2012 | Monday | February 6, 2012 |
| 2011 | Sunday | February 6, 2011 |
| 2010 | Saturday | February 6, 2010 |
Note: Holiday dates may vary. Some holidays follow lunar calendars or have different observance dates. Purple indicates weekends.