Waitangi National Trust Board Welcomes Government Investment in the Treaty Grounds
The Waitangi National Trust wishes to express its deep appreciation to the Government for its announcement of financial support for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Estate, with $8 million to be provided from the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Over recent years, notable improvements have been made to the Treaty Grounds' capital infrastructure through the generous support of RIF funding, preserving treasured cultural heritage such as the Treaty House, James and Agnes Busby's original residence, and Te Whare Rūnanga, while also investing in two museums – Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi and Te Rau Aroha Museum of the Price of Citizenship, the story of the Māori Battalion ‘A’ Company.
This latest funding will be used to support and strengthen the continued operation and preservation of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and to build a strong base to plan for the important upcoming bicentennial events through to 2040.
Trust Board Chair Dame Jenny Shipley says: “As we approach 200 years as a nation, this investment helps us prepare to welcome all New Zealanders and visitors from around the world to the birthplace of our nation, and to share the Treaty's unique gift in new ways — the gift that forms the very basis of who we are.”
“These new resources will allow the Trust to make improvements in how it presents and shares the experiences and stories of Waitangi. This includes exploring further how it might use modern digital investment to unlock the remarkable voices that were present when our nation was founded.”
“The investment will boost our ambition to ensure Waitangi is and remains a place where all New Zealanders wish to visit, and in doing so will see all aspects of our history and who we are as a nation together.”
Chief Executive Ben Dalton notes that: “More than 160,000 people visit the Treaty Grounds each year, making it one of Northland's leading visitor destinations and a key hub for wider tourism across the region as well as an important contributor to the regional economy.”
The Board notes this investment builds on previous Government support for the Treaty Grounds and surrounding infrastructure, including for Treaty Grounds infrastructure upgrades, for sealing Haruru Falls Road, and the construction of Te Rau Aroha – the Māori Battalion Museum.
Dame Jenny says "We are extremely grateful to the Government for this new investment. We look forward to the opportunities it will create going forward to work alongside the Crown and our new key partner, Foundation North, to ensure Waitangi remains a living, enduring taonga where two peoples came together to form a nation.”
