See the original Treaty documents this Waitangi Day

Archives New Zealand will be open on Waitangi Day, 6 February, to give visitors the opportunity to view Te Tiriti o Waitangi on the 176thanniversary of its first signing.

Archives New Zealand is usually closed at weekends but will hold a special Open Day for the public from 10.00am till 4.00pm on Saturday 6 February 2016.

“The ability to view the original nine sheets of the Treaty on our national day adds to the unique nature of the occasion,” says Chief Archivist Marilyn Little.

“Visitors are often surprised to see the Treaty close-up in a climate-controlled environment.

When visitors see the lengths taken to protect Te Tiriti they often express a real sense of reverence for the document.

Although it is a very fragile sheet of parchment it carries weighty significance as our founding document.

Archives NZ has the trusted role to protect and preserve the document on behalf of the nation, while also making it as widely accessible as possible and sharing information about its history and influence.”

The Treaty can be viewed in the Constitution Room at Archives New Zealand between 10am and 4pm on Waitangi Day.

The building is at 10 Mulgrave Street, Wellington.

Entry is free and archivists will be on hand for informal discussions about the origins and the history of the Treaty throughout the day.

Further information about the history of Te Tiriti o Waitangi sheets since 1840 is available on the Archives NZ site here: http://archives.govt.nz/exhibitions/treaty

ENDS

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