
Feb 06, 2025
Waitangi Day 2025
He pou whenua, he pou tangata, he pou oranga e. This Waitangi Day Doodle features pou whenua.
This Doodle’s Key Themes

About Waitangi Day 2025
This Doodle honors Waitangi Day in New Zealand. On this day in 1840, 45 Māori chiefs and representatives of the British monarchy gathered in the Bay of Islands to sign Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). The Doodle artwork, featuring a set of pou whenua (carved figures) in a New Zealand landscape, was created by Māori guest artist Jordan Tuhura of Tuatahi Creatives.
In time, more than 500 Māori chiefs added their names to the Treaty. The agreement is widely regarded as the founding document of New Zealand as a sovereign nation. It wasn’t until 1974 that Waitangi Day became recognized as an official public holiday.
Celebrations usually start two or three days before the actual date. On Waitangi Day, New Zealand government officials, Māori leaders and members of the public gather at the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, for a dawn service, followed by speeches and cultural performances. Around the area, the day is marked by a festival with food and market stalls, activities, music and more.
Waitangi Day is a significant event marking the start of modern New Zealand’s history. It is a day of reflection and solemnity, with discussion over the Te Tiriti o Waitangi continuing to this day. For most New Zealanders, it’s a day of remembrance and a reason to come together.
Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata, whakamaua kia tina
Guest Artist Q&A with Jordan Tuhura

This Doodle was illustrated by Queenstown-based guest artist Jordan Tuhura. Here, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:
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