The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in 1840.
The agreement was first signed on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It was signed by representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs. Additional copies were then taken around New Zealand, and more chiefs signed over subsequent months.
The treaty exists in English and Māori versions, and important differences between their wording have contributed to continuing debate about its meaning. In particular, the Māori text uses concepts that do not map exactly onto the English word “sovereignty.”
Waitangi Day is observed annually on 6 February. The treaty is widely regarded as a founding document of modern New Zealand, although its interpretation, breaches, and effects remain central issues in New Zealand history and politics.