Waitangi Day Act
Encyclopedia
There have been two Waitangi Day Acts passed by the New Zealand Parliament: the Waitangi Day Act 1960 and the Waitangi Day Act 1976. Neither made the sixth of February (Waitangi Day
) a public holiday; this was done by the New Zealand Day Act 1973
. The first Waitangi Day Act was a token gesture towards acknowledging the Treaty of Waitangi
. The second changed the name of the day from New Zealand Day back to Waitangi Day
.
, had campaigned for Waitangi Day
to be a public holiday in recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi
. The promise of a public holiday was part of Labour
's 1957 election manifesto. Labour was subsequently elected as the second Labour government
, but decided that New Zealand could not afford another public holiday. The Waitangi Day Act was a compromise which allowed them to claim they had kept their promise, without actually creating a holiday.
The Act consisted of three clauses and established that the sixth of February would be known as Waitangi Day
and 'shall be observed throughout New Zealand as a national day of thanksgiving in commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
.'
It did not make Waitangi Day
a public holiday, but allowed the Governor-General
to declare it one in any region, in substitute for that region's anniversary public holiday. The Act contained the English language version of the Treaty of Waitangi
as a schedule, the first time that the Treaty had appeared anywhere in New Zealand legislation.
Māori were generally disappointed by the act, and continued to press for a public holiday. The National Party
opposition spent most of the debate on the Act criticising the government for breaking their promise, but also felt that New Zealand could not afford another public holiday.
amended the Act to make Waitangi Day a holiday in Northland, abolishing the Auckland Anniversary Day
holiday in that area.
made the day a public holiday and renamed it New Zealand Day, and also abolished the Waitangi Day Act 1960. Many Māori felt that the new name drew attention away from the Treaty of Waitangi
, and campaigned for the name to be changed back. Following a change of government in 1975, the new National government
passed the Waitangi Day Act 1976, which changed the name of the day back to Waitangi Day
. It also gave Northland its own anniversary day holiday and included the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty of Waitangi
as a schedule.
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
) a public holiday; this was done by the New Zealand Day Act 1973
New Zealand Day Act 1973
The New Zealand Day Act 1973 made the sixth of February a public holiday in New Zealand. The day had been known for some time as Waitangi Day and commemorated the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1960 the first Waitangi Day Act was passed enabling any area of the country to substitute a...
. The first Waitangi Day Act was a token gesture towards acknowledging the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
. The second changed the name of the day from New Zealand Day back to Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
.
Waitangi Day Act 1960
For some years before 1960, Māori, especially NgapuhiNgapuhi
Ngāpuhi is a Māori iwi located in the Northland region of New Zealand, and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands and Whāngārei.Ngāpuhi has the largest affiliation of any New Zealand iwi, with 122,214 people registered , and formed from 150 hapu, with 55 marae.-Foundations:The founding...
, had campaigned for Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
to be a public holiday in recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
. The promise of a public holiday was part of Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
's 1957 election manifesto. Labour was subsequently elected as the second Labour government
Second Labour Government of New Zealand
The Second Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1957 to 1960. It was most notable for raising taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and petrol, a move which was probably responsible for the government lasting for only one term....
, but decided that New Zealand could not afford another public holiday. The Waitangi Day Act was a compromise which allowed them to claim they had kept their promise, without actually creating a holiday.
The Act consisted of three clauses and established that the sixth of February would be known as Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
and 'shall be observed throughout New Zealand as a national day of thanksgiving in commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
.'
It did not make Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
a public holiday, but allowed the Governor-General
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
to declare it one in any region, in substitute for that region's anniversary public holiday. The Act contained the English language version of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
as a schedule, the first time that the Treaty had appeared anywhere in New Zealand legislation.
Māori were generally disappointed by the act, and continued to press for a public holiday. The National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
opposition spent most of the debate on the Act criticising the government for breaking their promise, but also felt that New Zealand could not afford another public holiday.
1963 Amendment
In 1963 the second National governmentSecond National Government of New Zealand
The Second National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1960 to 1972. It was a conservative government which sought mainly to preserve the economic prosperity and general stability of the early 1960s...
amended the Act to make Waitangi Day a holiday in Northland, abolishing the Auckland Anniversary Day
Auckland Anniversary Day
Auckland Anniversary Day is a public holiday observed in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand. It is observed throughout the historic Auckland Province even though the provinces of New Zealand were abolished in 1876...
holiday in that area.
Waitangi Day Act 1976
In 1973 the New Zealand Day ActNew Zealand Day Act 1973
The New Zealand Day Act 1973 made the sixth of February a public holiday in New Zealand. The day had been known for some time as Waitangi Day and commemorated the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1960 the first Waitangi Day Act was passed enabling any area of the country to substitute a...
made the day a public holiday and renamed it New Zealand Day, and also abolished the Waitangi Day Act 1960. Many Māori felt that the new name drew attention away from the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
, and campaigned for the name to be changed back. Following a change of government in 1975, the new National government
Third National Government of New Zealand
The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically and socially conservative government, which aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government while also being socially conservative...
passed the Waitangi Day Act 1976, which changed the name of the day back to Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
. It also gave Northland its own anniversary day holiday and included the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
as a schedule.
Debate on the bills
- New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, vol. 325 (1960), pp. 2949–3132.
- New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, vol. 404 (1976), pp. 1367–79.
- New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, vol. 405 (1976), pp. 2272–9.
- New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, vol. 407 (1976), pp. 3215, 3424.