About
He Tohu is a permanent exhibition of 3 iconic constitutional documents that shape Aotearoa New Zealand.
Three iconic constitutional documents
The 3 iconic constitutional documents in the exhibition are:
1835 He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni — Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand
1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi — Treaty of Waitangi
1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition — Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine
Come and see these significant documents in the document room He Whakapapa Kōrero, a space inspired by the form and function of a waka huia – treasure container and a state-of-the-art conservation space, designed to preserve the documents for generations to come.
Contents
A declaration: He Whakaputanga
He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand is hugely important. It was how rangatira (Māori leaders) told the world, back in 1835, that New Zealand was an independent Māori nation.
A treaty: Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Te Tiriti o Waitangi — the Treaty of Waitangi is the agreement that Aotearoa New Zealand is built on. It has often been hotly debated, and at times ignored or broken but, for many New Zealanders, it remains a source of hope and optimism for our future.
A petition: Women’s Suffrage Petition
The Women’s Suffrage Petition — Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine led to New Zealand becoming the first country in the world where all women gained the right to vote in general elections. Thanks to the women who created, organised and signed the petition.
He Whakapapa Kōrero: The document room
Learn about the extraordinary curved room that holds He Whakaputanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the 1893 Women's Suffrage Petition. The room is designed to protect and enhance the mana of the precious documents it holds.
The exhibition
Find out what you will see and experience when you come to the He Tohu exhibition. Read about the awards that He Tohu exhibition has won.
Preserving the documents
Find out how our fragile and priceless documentary history is being preserved for future generations. What are the challenges for conservators and what technology is being used to protect the documents?
Moving the documents
Find out how the documents in the He Tohu exhibition were moved 200m from Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa in preparation for the opening of the He Tohu exhibition.
He Tohu Tāmaki
He Tohu Tāmaki is a learning experience for schools in the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland region, based on the award-winning exhibition at the National Library in Wellington.