Google Doodle celebrates Waitangi Day 2021, the national day of New Zealand

Google Doodle celebrates Waitangi Day (Te Rā o Waitangi), the national day of New Zealand, denotes the anniversary of the initial historic signing as the originating document of the Aotearoa New Zealand – on 6 February 1840 – of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi), on February 6, 2021.

In 1932, Governor-General Lord Bledisloe and his wife bought and introduced to the country the run-down house of James Busby, where the treaty was at first signed. After that, they donated GB£500 to reestablish the building.

The Treaty House and grounds were made a public reserve, which was devoted on 6 February 1934. This event is viewed as the first Waitangi Day. The first Waitangi Day was not celebrated until 1934, and it was unveiled as a national public holiday in 1974.

The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840 on the grounds of James Busby’s home—presently known as Treaty House—at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. The treaty was signed by agents following up in the interest of the British Crown and, at first, around 45 Māori chiefs.

Throughout the span of the following seven months, copies of the treaty were visited around the nation to offer different chiefs the chance to sign. The signing had the impact of securing British sovereignty over the islands of New Zealand, which was authoritatively broadcasted on 21 May 1840.

Read More: Waitangi Day 2020: Google Doodle Celebrates New Zealand’s National Day, Know Everything About Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day became a nationwide public holiday on its observance in 1974 by first going through a name change. In 1971 the Labor shadow minister of Māori Affairs, Matiu Rata, acquainted a private member’s bill with make Waitangi Day a national holiday, to be called New Zealand Day. This was not passed into law.

Waitangi Day went through ‘Mondayisation’ in legislation instituted in 2013, moving the public holiday to Monday if 6 February falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

In present-day New Zealand, the anniversary is noticed annually on 6 February and the day is generally perceived as a public holiday (except if the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday when the Monday that promptly follows becomes the public holiday).

Ceremonies happen at Waitangi and somewhere else to celebrate the signing of the treaty. A variety of events are arranged, including parties, Māori hui (get-togethers), reflections on New Zealand history, official awards, and citizenship ceremonies. The commemoration has additionally been the focus of protest by Māori activists and is sometimes the focus of controversy.

Presently perceived as one of the country’s most significant cultural heritage sites, Te Whare Rūnanga remains as a spot to unite individuals for significant hui (meetings) and represents the unification of Māori and every single New Zealander.

At dawn today, a ceremony inside Te Whare Rūnanga commences New Zealand’s annual Waitangi Festival, a vibrant celebration that incorporates Māori cultural performances and more.

Google Doodle on Waitangi Day 2021

On Feb 6th, 2021, Google observes Waitangi Day 2021 with a Google Doodle.

Google Doodle artwork represented the meeting house. On the centennial anniversary of the treaty’s signing, the Māori tribes contributed their remarkable carving styles to build the House of Assembly (Te Whare Rūnanga).

The unique carvings and perplexing tukutuku panels in the Whare design represent Māori all through Aotearoa as it unites the stories and styles of all Iwi (tribes), displaying an extraordinary gallery of Māori art, as well as an example of Māori cultural and social life.