Waitangi Marae

Just after Christmas we took my parents to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, now that they have the museum there the whole place has grown quite a bit. After going through the museum and looking over the peninsula we wanted to visit the Marae which is not only used for huis (meetings) but is also for performances for tourists and kiwis. The reason this area is so important is that on this land the treaty was first signed between the British and the Maori.

We waited outside for the performance that was happening inside to finish and once everyone came out we walked in and took photos. Now normally if you're not Maori you have to be welcomed onto the Marae grounds, you can't just enter but this one is for everyone and most Maraes aren't lit up like this. Along the walls are the most amazing carvings, weaving and artwork - this really symbolizes our culture.

Linking up with The Weekend Roundup and Weekend Reflections.

The Waitangi Flagpole

See this flagpole? Looks kinda boring right? Well this flagpole has an important history to our country. Located in Paihia on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds it marks the spot where the treaty was first signed on 6th February 1840. The flags that fly today are the 3 official flags that we have had since 1834 - Te Kara (the flag of the United Tribes of NZ), the Union Flag (from 1840 to 1902) and the NZ Flag (from 1902 to present day).

The first flagstaff was gifted to James Busby by Ngapuhi chief Hone Heke Pokai. This was later shifted to Kororareka (Russell). In 1834 a flagstaff was erected by the Royal NZ Navy, replaced in 1947 and the Navy remains the caretaker of the current one to this day.

New Zealand's first flag was chosen at a meeting of chiefs at Waitangi on 20th March 1834 to ensure that ships built and owned by people in this country would be recognized by other nations.  British resident James Busby invited Maori leaders to choose 1 of 3 designs for the flag which later became known as the flag of the United Tribes of NZ (Te Kara of Te Whakaminenga o Nga Hapu o Niu Tireni). 

Britain's acceptance of this flag showed the country was now internationally regarded as an independant nation and started a drive from James Busby to form a government. The Declaration of Independance was created in 1835 followed by the Treaty in 1840.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Tuesday treasures, Through my lens, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the world.

Waitangi Meeting House

A month or so ago we visited Waitangi, in Paihia as the area has been upgraded to included a museum named Te Kongahu. Unfortunately for me I left my camera in the car and had to make do with my cellphone camera, so these photos are not the best quality.

This building in these photos is the meeting house which was built in 1940 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the treaty representing all tribes of NZ. The Treaty of Waitangi was made between Maori Chiefs and the British Crown on 6th February 1840 and every years we remember this day as a public holiday. One thing I noticed inside the museum was one of the plaques on the wall said that the treaty was our country's first human right's document. So true, as the Maori Chiefs were not given representation or a language interpreter so therefore they had no idea of what they were signing. I found the whole experience very humbling and a huge learning experience.

Shippey's boat in Paihia

We've had some pretty intense weather overnight, I've been here in the Bay of Plenty for 3 years now and I've been waiting for something like this. We were woken around 4am by thunderstorms, lightening and pelting rain, in fact it's still raining out there now. Still not as good as the humdingers we use to get in Northland...

So until it clears up here I"ll be thinking of weather like this that we had when we visited Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Apparently until 2014 this boat was used as a restaurant but due to difficulties with the landlord they have since ceased trading so for now it is moored in the harbour near Waitangi.