Time to tour the birthplace of a nation
Every family has stories. Ones that are passed down through generations and woven into the fabric of our whā nau.
For some, these stories shaped Aotearoa New Zealand.
For the chairperson of the Waitangi National Trust, Pita Tipene, the connection to the Treaty Grounds runs deep.
His great-great-great-greatgrandfather Kawiti was a key part of the deliberations around te Tiriti o Waitangi in early February 1840.
Kawiti refused to sign on the day and instead got his two sons, Taura and Maihi to sign as a form of conditional approval.
Kawiti eventually signed on May 13th, 1840 and his tohu (signature) is at the very top of all the signatories
After the signing, Governor Hobson shared these words to those assembled, most of whom were Rangatira, including Kawiti: ‘‘He iwi tahi tatou.’’
The most accurate interpretation of this phrase is ‘‘Together we are a nation’’, erroneously described at the time as ‘‘We are now one people.’’
To Pita, this is the promise of Waitangi.
‘‘This is a place where we can have conversations about where we have come from and more importantly, where we are going as a nation. What is nationhood and what do we want it to be?’’
There are many other stories of Waitangi, told by the descendants of those who were there. For Waitangi National Trust representative Jane Fletcher, a side table that stood in her childhood home, piled high with books and coats, turned out to be more than she ever expected.
It belonged to James Busby, co-author of Te Tiriti.
Fletcher says that although she can’t remember when she learned that it was a Busby heirloom, she does remember as a child examining it closely for secret compartments where there might be early drafts of the Treaty.
‘‘When I first visited Waitangi, I noticed there was an exact replica of the table with a sign on it saying, ‘original lost in the Busby family.’ My family discussed returning it to its old home, the Treaty House, where it now sits, much better looked after than it was ever at our house. I’m proud that it’s on display to help us better understand Aotearoa today.’’
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are home to many previously untold stories.
Which is why Pita, Jane and their colleagues invite all New Zealanders to visit the grounds and experience these pieces of our history for themselves.
When we acknowledge the complexities of our past, we can all move towards the future together.
With two museums on site, there is more to Waitangi than most Kiwis know.
Visit New Zealand’s most significant historic site, immerse yourself in the tales of the past and feel the stories that shaped Aotearoa.
For more information about the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi or to plan your visit, go to waitangi.org.nz.
This article is published in association with Waitangi National Trust as part of a commercial arrangement between and Waitangi National Trust.
‘‘This is a place where we can have conversations about where we have come from and . . . where we are going as a nation.’’ Waitangi National Trust chairperson Pita Tipene