Discover how the founding document of modern Aotearoa New Zealand shapes relationships between the peoples here today.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by more than 500 rangatira (Māori leaders), and representatives of the British Crown. Today, it is on display at the National Library in Wellington.

Te Tiriti has been breached many times by the British Crown and successive New Zealand governments.

Video projection

The English version of the Treaty of Waitangi is contentious. The video projection highlights differences between the reo Māori version (te Tiriti o Waitangi) and the English version (the Treaty of Waitangi). A version in English was also signed – but only by 39 rangatira. It became the official English version.

The projection also points to a 1988 translation thought to more accurately reflect the understanding of Māori who signed.

Key differences between the documents:

• The English version gives the Queen of England sovereignty – supreme rule over the country.

• But the Māori version only gives the Queen of England kāwanatanga – governance.

• The English version promises Māori undisturbed possession of their lands, estates, forests, and fisheries.

• But the Māori version promises Māori tino rangatiratanga – absolute sovereignty.

The versions do not have the same meaning. The Māori version does not give away sovereignty. In 2014, a Waitangi Tribunal finding agreed with this.

A contested document

From 1998, the official English version was displayed here on a panel opposite the official Māori version. In 2023, activist group Te Waka Hourua damaged the panel because the English version did not accurately reflect the Māori version.

Debate about the Treaty is important and ongoing.

Explore treasures connected to te Tiriti

Treasures that belonged to four rangatira tell personal stories of hope, conflict, and cooperation – at the signing of te Tiriti, and in the tumultuous decades that followed.