Every year on February 6th, New Zealand marks the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi with a public holiday called “Waitangi Day”. The Treaty of Waitangi is often considered to be New Zealand’s founding document. In 1840, representatives of the British Crown and of Māori iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes) entered into a political compact to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand to deal with pressing circumstances of the time. Not drafted as a constitution or statute, the Treaty of Waitangi was a broad statement of principles and an exchange of promises between the two parties. It is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was first signed. Waitangi Day is recognized as New Zealand’s national day.