Waitangi
First full day in the Bay of Islands we headed to the Waitangi Treaty grounds. For non-kiwis reading this, Waitangi is the birth place of modern New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and Māori tribal leaders. The Treaty made New Zealand a British colony. However it’s still the centre of much disagreement and strife in NZ, mainly over land ownership. Two copies were drawn up, one in English and Māori, which differed greatly in wording, and not all Māori tribes were represented at that original signing.
Waitangi is now a beautifully kept reserve and full of birdlife:
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