New Zealand / Te Ao Māori

NZ marks Waitangi Day, 181 years on from the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

12:02 pm on 6 February 2021

Commemorations are continuing at Waitangi, as New Zealand marks 181 years since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other dignitaries are being hosted by Ngāpuhi to commemorate the day, with about 1000 people attending the dawn service earlier today.

Waitangi Day 2021 photo gallery:

At the dawn service, Ardern said it was a day to acknowledge the partnership formed by the Treaty and "constantly learning, striving for better, holding hope for the future".

Opposition leader Judith Collins also spoke this morning, saying: "Let us be thankful for the lessons we have learnt from history … and let us learn from their mistakes."

Crowds then gathered for breakfast served up by the politicians.

The Treaty was first signed, by some 500 rangatira and Britain's representative William Hobson, 181 years ago.

See how the morning unfolded here: