Every year on the 6th of February New Zealand marks the signing of the treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
In that year , representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is NZ's founding document.
For some people Waitangi Day is a holiday, for many and especially Maori it is the occasion for reflecting on the treaty.
Since the 1970's the style and mood of the commemorations on Waitangi have been influenced by the increasingly heated debate surrounding the place of the Treaty in modern NZ.
The Whare ( Council House) near to where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.
The carvings are wonderful and it is amazing the work, craft and skill that goes into them.
The Waka ( canoe) can be manned by up to 80 paddlers and can be up to 40 metres long.
They are wonderfully carved also and are used for ceremonial occasions.
Great post! I love learning history!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info . .. always good to learn about other countries. Your pictures are gorgeous! Karen
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and yes it is great to learn about other Countries.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy watching the History Channel and finding out about other people and places.
Hugs
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn~ It's so nice to have you visit my blog! Thanks for your sweet comment about my kitty! You really show some amazing things on your blog. It's nice to learn about new things. ~Mandy
ReplyDeleteWowwwww. I know zilch about NZ history, so this was wonderful. Thank you. The details and craftsmanship on the house and canoe are breathtaking! We are so lucky that there are people out there who really care about their craft and artistry, aren't we? I would so love to see these up close one day.
ReplyDeleteI hope that one day you will be able to come over here Bella and see NZ for yourself.
ReplyDeleteYes, the carvings are amazing and to think that someone has worked and chiselled away, must take such a long time and with so much skill.
Hugs
Carolyn
Thank you for the history lesson, I know next to nothing about New Zealand, so thank you. I bet the interior of that Whare smells wonderful, all woodsy....
ReplyDelete