Each whānau at our kura will be celebrating and commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence...

On 28 October 1835, with James Busby, the British Resident in New Zealand, the declaration was signed by 34 northern Māori chiefs, including Tāmati Wāka Nene, Tītore, Te Wharerahi and Moka Te Kainga-mataa. Further signatures followed and by 1839, a total of 52 chiefs had signed forming the United Tribes of New Zealand. The purpose of the document was to proclaim the Sovereign Independence of New Zealand.