Waitangi Day

On this day 181 years ago, the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed by representatives of the British Crown and over 40 local Rangatira. By September 1840, over 500 Rangatira throughout New Zealand had signed the Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In 1932, the 506 hectare Waitangi Estate in Northland NZ, was gifted to New Zealanders by Lord and Lady Bledisloe; it is managed by the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Today the property features the Carved Meeting House/Te Whare Rūnanga, Treaty House, Te Rau Aroha Museum, Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi, a Carving Studio/Whare Toi, Ceremonial War Canoes and the Whare Waka Cafe. It is a #nzmustdo!

My ancestor Gilbert Mair settled in the Bay of Islands in 1819. He learned to speak Te Reo fluently and lived among Māori with his twelve children. Alongside James Clendon, he signed the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand in 1835 and was present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In 1835, he was commissioned to build Christ Church in Russell/Kororareka.