He Whakaputanga 1835

The true sovereigns of Aotearoa (New Zealand) land of the long white clouds

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – known in English as the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand – is a constitutional document of historical and cultural significance. First signed by thirty-four Northern Māori rangatira (chiefs) on 28 October 1835, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni collected a further eighteen signatures by 1839. Through He Whakaputanga, these fifty-two rangatira asserted that mana (authority) and sovereign power in New Zealand resided fully with Māori, and that foreigners would not be allowed to make laws.

Officially recognized by the United Kingdom and acknowledged by France and the United States, it signalled the emergence of Māori authority on the world stage. It represented a development in Māori nationhood and identity, while reaffirming tikanga Māori and sites of power that had existed for centuries. The document personifies a pivotal moment for Northern Māori, and the history of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Created in partnership with the British Resident James Busby, He Whakaputanga is historically significant due to its association with Māori-Crown relations and British involvement in New Zealand.