The doors to staffed Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga properties around the country will again be open, free of charge, to the public this Waitangi Day.

The objective of the 6 February open day is to promote the significance of these places that contribute to the story of early Māori and Pākehā interaction and the progression to the multicultural society we are today in a family, fun and inclusive way.  This year will be the fifth year the open day has been held.

Māngungu Mission and Te Waimate Mission – properties cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga – were signing venues for the Treaty as versions travelled around the country.

Properties that will be open on Waitangi Day are: Clendon House, Kerikeri Mission Station, Māngungu Mission, Pompallier Mission and Printery and Te Waimate Mission House in Northland; Highwic, Alberton and Ewelme Cottage in Auckland; Thames School of Mines;  Hurworth in New Plymouth;  Old Government Buildings, Old St Paul’s and Antrim House in Wellington; Fyffe House in Kaikōura; Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House in Christchurch;  Totara Estate and Clarks Mill in North Otago; and Hayes Engineering Works and the Ophir Post Office in Central Otago.

Visitors to a property or properties will receive, while stocks last, a 20-page publication on Waitangi Day for free.  The souvenir booklet, Te Rā o Waitangi 2021, includes articles in English and Te Reo Māori on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and He Wakaputanga (the Declaration of Independence) of 1835, a map depicting where each of the nine versions of the Treaty travelled around the country for signing, how Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga honours its Treaty obligations through its commitment to Māori heritage and information about properties open on the day.

People are encouraged to mark Waitangi Day by enjoying free visits to the places Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga cares for on behalf of all New Zealanders.

Image: Alberton, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga