Waitangi Day at the National Library

Come to the National Library this Waitangi Day to see the original Treaty of Waitangi and engage with Aotearoa’s history.

See the Treaty of Waitangi
Come and get up close and personal with the Treaty of Waitangi at the National Library this Waitangi Day!

Guided tours of He Tohu
Join us between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm for a 30-minute guided tour exploring He Tohu, the multi-award-winning exhibition which features all nine original signed sheets of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Tours begin on the hour and half hour between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm.

Join us for other activities while you are here
We will also have other activities available to help you learn and reflect on the ways in which the signing of the Treaty has impacted on our nation’s history:

10:30am - Nan and Tuna, a bilingual puppet show about eels, rivers and friendship called by String Bean Puppets (40min)
11am and 2pm - join a bilingual tour with Wātene Kaihau (30min)
11:15am, 12:15pm and 1:15pm - te reo pronunciation workshop with Wātene Kaihau at (30min)
get involved in arts and crafts activities for the whole whānau
watch historical footage of Waitangi Day commemorations curated by Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision
experience an installation of giant banners featuring four Treaty signatories, including local rangatira Te Wharepōuri
Make your own treaty.
More about Nan and Tuna
Nan and Tuna have been friends for 70 years and now it is time for one last adventure together. But before they leave they need to find someone to care for the river.

More about make your own treaty
Make your own treaty sheet out of parchment and coloured paper. What agreement would you make with your whānau and visitors?

Put your house rules on the sheet and have a go at signing with different marks.

Get your inspiration from seeing the original documents He Whakaputanga | Declaration of Independence and Te Tiriti o Waitangi | Treaty of Waitangi.

Check before you come
Due to COVID-19 some of our events can be cancelled or postponed at very short notice. Please check the website for updated information about individual events before you come.

For more general information about National Library services and exhibitions have look at our COVID-19 page.