Experiencing Culture and History at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

A combining of cultures

The history of the cultures coming together, through the good and the bad, are told in this room of painting, artifacts, static information panels, interactive information panels, and a huge projected board telling stories through a map of the Bay of the Islands. We get to see weapons and carvings from tribal leaders and muskets and armour brought by the European.

Continuing through the story of New Zealand’s first flag, we reach a room shaped like a small hut complete with a roof to watch a 13-minute movie showing an reenactment of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Ok, reenactment videos displayed in museums are not exactly renowned for being “good” but the short film put together by Warner Bros New Zealand and TVNZ is actually well-made!

The Treaty of Waitangi documents

After the show, we move into the Documents Room. Here, there are copies of signatures gathered for the Treaty of Waitangi. One very distinct-looking document seemingly stapled together in a long incoherent shape is one we have seen photos of across New Zealand is other museums, as it is such a significant document.

Checking out all the stunning artifacts of the Museum of Waitangi

Live Maori wood carving

More interactive touch screen displays and Maori artifacts lie around the next corner, until we reach a spectacular gift shop full of luxurious Maori items and a door leading out into the bush. By now, the rain is thrashing down but luckily the walkway is undercover. We notice a guy in a side room carving away at a piece of macrocarpa. He tells us he is in the early stages of carving a bird feeder. We can see the intricate designs sketched onto the wood.

Stunning views from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

After a further quick walk in the native bush, we emerge at a large grassy area with a flagstaff in the middle. Ahead, the grounds overlook the ocean and bright orange beaches. This place is stunning in itself, never mind historic!

A cultural performance at the carved meeting house

The time has almost come for the 11am performance, taking place in the carved meeting house across the grounds. The performance would usually start with a powhiri outside – welcoming ceremony to see if we are friend or foe. However, no one wants to stand in the rain, so the ceremony takes place under the cover of the carved meeting house. A leader to represent our tribe is voluntarily pushed forward by his grandson and leads us visitors into the meeting house where a group wearing traditional tribal clothes chant and sing. A warrior pulling all the faces that should be hilarious yet they are extremely intimidating presents a token on the ground for our tribe leader to pick up – indicating that we come in peace. Once the powhiri is complete, we sit on benches in the meeting house and the show begins!