Story: Kotahitanga – unity movements

This is the original copy of the New Zealand Declaration of Independence and is entitled, 'He w[h]akaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni.' It was signed at Waitangi on 28 October 1835. Under the declaration the United Tribes of New Zealand (te whakaminenga o ngā hapū o Nu Tireni) declared an independent state (he Whenua Rangatira). Plans for an annual congress were made in the declaration but did not come to pass. Signatories to the declaration mainly consisted of northern chiefs, but later Te Hapuku from Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Wherowhero of Waikato signed the declaration.