Treaty House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Treaty House |
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Whare Tiriti
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The restored Treaty House (2006)
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| General information | |
| Coordinates | 35°15′57″S 174°04′54″E / 35.2658°S 174.0816°E |
| Designated: | 23 June 1983 |
| Reference #: | 6 |
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The Treaty House (Whare Tiriti in Māori) is a very important building in Waitangi, New Zealand. It was once the home of James Busby, who was the British representative in New Zealand.
The most famous event here was the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840. This document helped create New Zealand as a British Colony. Before that, in 1835, the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand was also signed on these grounds.
The house and land were privately owned for many years. Then, in 1932, Governor-General Viscount Bledisloe bought them. He then gave them to the people of New Zealand. In 1934, the area became a special national reserve. Thousands of people, both Māori and Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent), including the Māori King, came to the dedication ceremony.
In 1940, a big celebration was held here for 100 years since the Treaty was signed. Since 1947, the grounds have been the main place for the yearly Waitangi Day celebrations.
Contents
Building the Treaty House
The Treaty House was built between 1833 and 1834 for James Busby and his family. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in New Zealand.
Original Design
- The house first had two main rooms.
- It also had an entrance hallway and a verandah (a covered porch).
- A separate building at the back held the kitchen and a room for servants.
- Even though Busby thought it was small, it was a large house for New Zealand in the 1830s.
Changes Over Time
- During the 1830s and 1840s, the house got bigger.
- A lean-to (a small addition) and two new wings were added.
- The Busby family owned the property until 1882.
- After that, a local farmer bought it and used it for farming, like shearing sheep.
- The house started to fall apart over the years.
Restoring the House
- In 1932, Viscount Bledisloe bought the house to save it.
- A famous architect named William Henry Gummer helped restore it.
- This was one of the first big projects in New Zealand to restore a historic building.
- Before the 150th anniversary of the Treaty signing in 1990, the house was changed again. This was to make it look exactly like it did in 1840.
What You Can See at the Treaty Grounds
The Treaty House has been a special heritage site since 1983. It is listed as a Category I building by Heritage New Zealand, meaning it's very important.
Inside the House
- The house now has a museum inside.
- The museum teaches visitors about the Treaty of Waitangi.
- It also shows what life was like in the house in the mid-1800s.
Important Features on the Grounds
- Whare Runanga: There is a beautifully carved whare runanga (Māori meeting house).
- Waka Taua: You can also see a very large waka taua (war canoe) called Ngā Toki Matawhaorua.
- Both the meeting house and the war canoe were built for the 1940 celebrations.
- Flagstaff: A flagstaff stands on the exact spot where the Treaty was signed. The first flagstaff was put up by the New Zealand Navy in 1934.
- Waitangi Treaty Monument: Nearby is the Waitangi Treaty Monument, built around 1880–1881. This monument is also a Category 1 heritage site.
Images for kids
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The Treaty House from the back, showing the two wings added in the 1840s.
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The courtyard at the back of the Treaty House.
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A recreation of what the inside of the house looked like in the 19th century.
