He Whakaputanga is the Maori declaration to the international world of its mana, sovereignty and independence. Also known as the Declaration of Independence, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni was first signed on 28 October 1835.

In giving evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal, Ngapuhi experts explained that He Whakaputanga is key to understanding their tupuna’s intentions in signing Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Pasted below is the main part of Article 2 from this document and several quotes from Ngapuhi Speaks that show the importance of the declaration.

Click here to watch a video of a presentation Susan Healy did for the New Lynn Library on “He Whakaputanga: the Key to Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

As Kevin McBride has said often, knowledge of He Whakaputanga is vital to our country’s constitutional history.

Let’s celebrate this important day!

Susan Healy

Photo:  New Lynn display for He Whakaputanga. Susan Healy with Kristen (video producer, with flowers) and Laura (New Lynn librarian who hosted the seminar).

(Click images below to expand so that they are easy to read)