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6 Feb 2021

NZ marks Waitangi Day, 181 years on from the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

12:02 pm on 6 February 2021

Commemorations are continuing at Waitangi, as New Zealand marks 181 years since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other dignitaries are being hosted by Ngāpuhi to commemorate the day, with about 1000 people attending the dawn service earlier today.

Waitangi Day 2021 photo gallery:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Ngapuhi kuia Titewhai Harawira during the dawn service. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

The crowd at the dawn service. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

A piper plays after the conclusion of the dawn service. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Dawn at Waitangi. Photo / Jane Patterson

The crowd leaves the dawn service. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Jacinda Ardern and Titewhai Harawira hold hands on the verandah of The Whare Runanga. Photo / Sam Rillstone

National Party leader Judith Collins at the dawn service. Photo / Sam Rillstone

Photo / Sam Rillstone

Jacinda Ardern serves up breakfast at Waitangi. Photo / Sam Rillstone

Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Crowds gather for breakfast. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Photo / Sam Rillstone

The crowd at Waitangi. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono, co-leader Marama Davidson. Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Photo / Jogai Bhatt

Green Party co-leader James Shaw can also be seen serving up a storm. credit: RNZ/Jogai Bhatt

Grant Robertson gets out the tongs. Photo / Sam Rillstone

Photo / Samuel Rillstone

At the dawn service, Ardern said it was a day to acknowledge the partnership formed by the Treaty and "constantly learning, striving for better, holding hope for the future".

Opposition leader Judith Collins also spoke this morning, saying: "Let us be thankful for the lessons we have learnt from history … and let us learn from their mistakes."

Crowds then gathered for breakfast served up by the politicians.

The Treaty was first signed, by some 500 rangatira and Britain's representative William Hobson, 181 years ago.

See how the morning unfolded here: