# Waitangi Treaty Grounds

> Waitangi Treaty Grounds is Aotearoa New Zealand's most important historic site, known as Te Pitowhenua (the nation's birthplace). Located in the Bay of Islands, Northland, it is where Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840, and where He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (the Declaration of Independence) was signed in 1835.

The Grounds form a 506-hectare estate held in trust by the Waitangi National Trust. Lord and Lady Bledisloe purchased the estate and gifted it to the nation in 1932; the Trust was set up by an Act of Parliament and its Deed of Trust drawn up the same year. The gift was formally celebrated at a hui on 6 February 1934, the first Waitangi Day. The Trust relies on visitor admission and donations to maintain the site. Visitors experience roughly 16 hectares of accessible grounds within the wider estate, including guided tours, cultural performances, two museums, historic buildings, the world's largest ceremonial waka taua, education programmes, and event hire.

## Visit & Experience
- [Admission tickets and entry options](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/book/waitangi-admissions): Day passes include a guided tour, cultural performance, two museums, the Treaty House, Te Whare Rūnanga, and the Ngātokimatawhaorua waka taua. Admission passes are valid for two consecutive days. Open daily except Christmas Day: 9am to 5pm (1 February to 24 December) and 9am to 6pm (26 December to 31 January)
- [Hāngī and Concert evening experience](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/book/hangi-and-concert): Live cultural performance and traditional hāngī dinner, offered seasonally October to April
- [Guided Tours](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/guided-tours): Guided tours of the Treaty Grounds
- [Cultural Performances](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/cultural-performances): Live Māori cultural performances
- [The Store gift shop](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/gift-shop): Books, Māori carvings, taonga, and gifts
- [Friends of Waitangi membership](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/about/friends-of-waitangi): Annual admission and exclusive invites to special events
- [Cruise ship shore excursions](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/campaign/bayofislandsshoreexcursions): Shore excursion information for cruise passengers in the Bay of Islands

## Museums & Historic Buildings
- [Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/museum-of-waitangi): Contemporary museum with the permanent Ko Waitangi Tēnei exhibition on the ground floor exploring the events leading to the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty, their signing, and their ongoing relevance, plus the Temporary Exhibition Gallery on the first floor. Lift access between the foyer and first-floor gallery
- [Te Rau Aroha Museum of the Price of Citizenship](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/te-rau-aroha): Contemporary museum honouring Māori service and sacrifice in the armed forces, with wheelchair access
- [Treaty House](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/treaty-house): The former British Residency, built from 1834, where Te Tiriti o Waitangi was finalised. Renamed the Treaty House at Lord Bledisloe's request, with restoration in 1933 and again in 1989
- [Te Whare Rūnanga carved meeting house](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/te-whare-runanga): Traditional carved meeting house representing iwi from across New Zealand, opened 6 February 1940
- [Flagstaff](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/flagstaff): Marks the location where more than 40 rangatira began signing Te Tiriti o Waitangi on 6 February 1840
- [Ngātokimatawhaorua ceremonial waka](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/ceremonial-waka): The world's largest ceremonial waka taua (war canoe), carved from giant kauri
- [Temporary Exhibitions](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/whats-on/temporary-exhibition): Current temporary exhibitions

## Learning & Education
- [School visits and curriculum-aligned programmes](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/learn/school-visits): Hands-on learning experiences bringing Aotearoa New Zealand's history to life for students and youth groups
- [Virtual classroom experiences](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/learn/virtual-experiences): Online lessons examining Māori migration, early settler relationships, and Treaty impacts, delivered to classrooms anywhere with reliable internet
- [Introduction to Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshop](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/learn/introduction-to-te-tiriti-o-waitangi-workshop): Professional development workshop for organisations deepening their understanding of the Treaty
- [Giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi webinar](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/learn/giving-effect-to-te-tiriti-o-waitangi-webinar): Professional development webinar
- [Whānau activities](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/learn/whanau-activities): Activities for families
- [Learning resources](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/learn/resources): Educational resources

## Events & Venue Hire
- [Waitangi Day festival](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/whats-on/waitangi-day): Free public festival held annually on 6 February, with a dawn service, market stalls, performance stages, and activities. All buildings are closed to the public on this day
- [Matariki celebrations](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/events/matariki-2026): July koha-entry day with guided tours, cultural performances, activities for tamariki, and workshops
- [Functions and events venue hire](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/hire/functions-and-events): Conference and event spaces in a setting of cultural significance in the Bay of Islands
- [Weddings](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/hire/weddings): Wedding venue hire
- [Catering services](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/hire/catering): Morning and afternoon tea, grazing platters, buffets, gala dinners, and traditional hāngī

## About & History
- [Waitangi history and founding](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/about/history): The 1835 Declaration of Independence, the 1840 Treaty signing, James Busby's residency, the Bledisloe gift, the first Waitangi Day in 1934, and the site's role in New Zealand's history
- [Vision and mission](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/about/vision-and-mission): Vision "He Whenua Rangatira / An Enduring Symbol of Nationhood"; mission "Titiro ki ngā Taumata o te Moana / To Illustrate the Ongoing Promise of Waitangi to the World". Covers the 1932 Bledisloe gift and the forming of the Waitangi National Trust
- [People and leadership](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/about/people-leadership): The Waitangi National Trust Board, made up of descendants and representatives of people connected to the Treaty signing, and the leadership managing daily operations
- [Trade and media](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/about/trade-media): Information for travel trade and media enquiries

## Practical Information
- [How to get to Waitangi](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/how-to-get-here): Located at 1 Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi, Bay of Islands. Around a three-hour drive north of Auckland, and 2km from Paihia township. Free parking at the main entrance. Wheelchair access and mobility support available
- [Treaty Grounds map](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/map): Map of the site and its features
- [Opening hours](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/opening-hours): Current opening hours
- [Accessibility](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/visit/how-to-get-here#accesibility): Accessibility across the visitor grounds, including boardwalks, paths, museums, tours, performances, dining, and facilities. Wheelchairs are available on site
- [Contact](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/contact): Free phone 0800 9248 2644 (NZ landlines), international +64 9 402 7437, email info@waitangi.org.nz. Physical address 1 Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi, Bay of Islands 0293 (PO Box 48, Paihia 0247)
- [Support through donations](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/donate): Donations support conservation of historic buildings and taonga, learning programmes, grounds maintenance, and environmental protection. Options include one-off gifts, regular giving, bequests, and corporate partnerships

## Optional
- [Waitangi Blog](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/waitangi-blog): News, historical features, and articles on Māori culture and the Treaty Grounds
- [Careers at Waitangi](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/careers): Employment opportunities across customer service, hospitality, carving, education, and cultural performance
- [Terms and conditions](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/terms-and-conditions): Booking, refund, pricing (NZD including GST), and cancellation policies
- [Privacy policy](https://www.waitangi.org.nz/campaign/privacy-policy): Cookie usage, visitor tracking, and handling of personal information