Thursday is Te Pūtake o Te Riri, He Rā Maumahara, the national day of commemoration for the New Zealand wars.
The New Zealand wars were a series of battles in the mid-19th century between iwi Māori and government forces.
Also on this day, 186 years ago, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Niu Tireni, the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand, was signed by 34 rangatira.
