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He Whakaputanga, English

He Whakaputanga was signed on 28 October 1835 declaring New Zealand an independent nation. These resources cover the declaration, its significance, the articles, translations, signatories and why this document still matters today. SCIS no: 1894406

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United Tribes Ensign

United Tribes Ensign

The need for a flag became urgent when a Hokianga built ship Sir George Murray was seized by customs in Sydney in 1830. The reason? It did not have a flag declaring its nationality so it could pote...

Teaching and learning resources

He Tohu has resources from and activities to inspire and inform students' inquiry into concepts related to He Whakaputanga (the Declaration of Independence), Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Wai...

Declaration of Independence (New Zealand)

Declaration of Independence (New Zealand)

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga – The Declaration of Independence was signed on 28 October 1835 by 34 northern Māori chiefs. The document declared the independence of Nu Tirene (New Zealand) u...

Te Kara

The United Tribes Flag design, 1834

Te Kara o Te Whakaminenga o Ngā Hapū o Nu Tirene, 1834.

Busby, James

180th anniversary of NZ's Declaration of Independence

Today marks 180 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand, with the anniversary being celebrated on the Waitangi Treaty grounds for the first time.

Why the Declaration of Independence still matters

Why the Declaration of Independence still matters

As well as being the official NZ Wars commemoration date, October 28 is celebrated by Northland iwi for the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document that recognised Māori sovereignty,...

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga

The Declaration of Independence

Koianei te tuhinga o He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga i hainatia e ngā rangatira e 34 o Te Taitokerau.

Hearings on Ngapuhi sovereignty continue at Waitangi

Hearings on Ngapuhi sovereignty continue at Waitangi

A second week of hearings is drawing to a close at Waitangi today on Ngaphui grievances about the Treaty and the New Zealand Declaration of Independence.

He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence: The contents of the declaration

Framing the declaration The declaration was drafted by James Busby, Henry Williams and missionary printer William Colenso. The declaration that was signed was in Māori, but a translation into Engli...

Kaupapa On The Couch: The Declaration of Independence

Kaupapa On The Couch: The Declaration of Independence

Leonie Hayden presents Kaupapa On The Couch, a six-part webseries looking at issues in te ao Māori that aren’t as well known as they should be. Episode two of Kaupapa On The Couch looks at the f...

More hearings on 1835 sovereignty claim

The Waitangi Tribunal has begun a second week of hearings on the Ngapuhi claims involving the Treaty of Waitangi and the Declaration of Independence.

He Whakaputanga (Declaration of Independence) signatories

Database of signatories to He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (known in English as the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand)

Ngā haki – Māori and flags: Early national flags

Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand The need for a state flag arose in the 1830s for New Zealand trading ships. The Sir George Murray, part-owned by northern chiefs Patuone and Taonui, flew a ...

United Tribes flag flies at Christchurch City Council

United Tribes flag flies at Christchurch City Council

From left to right: New Zealand flag, Christchurch heraldic flag, United Tribes flag. Waitangi Day. Monday 6 February 2017. Photo by Donna Robertson File Reference: 2017-02-06-IMG_8376 From the ...

United Tribes' flag

United Tribes' flag

Two Māori are shown below the flag of the United Tribes. The United Tribes, or Wakaminenga o Nu Tirene, signed the Declaration of Independence on 28 October 1835. Their flag had already been select...

The British move towards annexation

Factors that resulted in British sovereign authority over New Zealand.

The life of Patuone

The life and times of Patuone, the celebrated Ngapuhi Chief.

He Whenua Rangatira

See the history of Māori arrivals from 1200, European arrivals from 1642 and the signing of He Whakaputanga from 1835 to 1839.

The significance of He Whakaputanga

Without He Whakaputanga, there might have been no Treaty of Waitangi.

He Whakaputanga me te Tiriti

Discussion about the Declaration and the Treaty of Waitangi.

United Tribes flag

History of the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand (1834).

Lost in translation

Mike King explores the background of the Treaty of Waitangi which includes the Declaration of Independence.

United Tribes flag

An account leading up to the selection of the first flag.

He tohu, ngā taonga tuku iho

Jacinta Beckwith remarks on her recent visit to the He Tohu exhibition of three iconic constitutional documents that shaped Aotearoa New Zealand.

Patuone and commerce

Patuone was also in Sydney on a trading mission in November 1830 aboard the Sir George Murray.

Corralling consent

A detailed inquiry into the mythical beginning of the New Zealand flag.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Independence from Britain

Timeline of countries that have declared their independence from Britain.

Why some countries declare independence

Social studies resource toolkit on why countries declare independence.

King William IV

King of England at the time of He Whakaputanga.

International recognition

He Whakaputanga added to UNESCO’s New Zealand documentary heritage register.

Carwyn Jones on He Whakaputanga

Carwyn Jones and historians explain how He Whakaputanga and The Treaty of Waitangi relate to each other.

With the royals, 183 years after we declared our independence

Thoughts on He Whakaputanga, commemoration of the New Zealand Wars, and the wounds of colonisation.

McDonald, James Ingram, 1865-1935 :James Busby, British Resident, 1830. 1903.

James Busby was born in Scotland on 7 February 1802. He arrived in New Zealand in 1833 to become the first official British resident. In 1834 he held a meeting with the Māori chiefs at Waitangi to...

Photographer unknown :Portrait of Eruera Maihi Patuone

Eruera Maihi Patuone

Eruera Maihi Patuone was principal leader of Ngāti Hao. He was one of the 13 Māori leaders who signed a petition in 1831 asking King William IV for protection from the French. Patuone also signed H...

Waitangi Treaty House and grounds, Waitangi

Waitangi from the air

Waitangi, one of New Zealand’s most historic sites is located in the Bay of Islands. ‘Wai’ means waters and ‘tangi’ means noisy or weeping. Waitangi was where (in 1834) Māori chiefs gathered to se...

A declaration: He Whakaputanga

He Whakaputanga – the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand – may be small in size, but it is hugely important.

He Whakaputanga/The Declaration of Independence, 1835

Differing viewpoints on whether the Treaty of Waitangi or the Declaration of Independence is a better model for relations between Māori and other New Zealanders.

Busby and the Declaration of Independence

Research on the true motives of James Busby’s hastily drawn up 1835 Declaration of Independence, which he claimed was to resist the intention of Baron Charles de Thierry to establish a sovereign st...

The Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand

The te reo version and English version, (and other details) of the Declaration of Independence from Archives New Zealand.

Eruera Pare Hongi

The final Māori text of He Whakaputanga was written by Eruera Pare Hongi, who also composed the first known independently-written letter in te reo Māori in 1825, when he was only 10 years old.

American Declaration Of Independence

The adoption of the Declaration of Independence adopted in America on 4 July 1776.

Find more information on He Whakaputanga on EPIC. Databases recommended: New Zealand History Collection. School login maybe required.

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