Waitangi

One of, if not the most significant event in New Zealand history was the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6th of February 1840 (don't quote me on the year, please). On that day the British and Maori agreed to live in peace as one nation. From this comes the national priority of bi-culturalism and the intentional effort of cultural inclusivity.

So yesterday I had the privilege of walking the 'sacred' grounds of Waitangi, the place where the treaty was signed [http://www.waitangi.net.nz/]. It is one of those places that I believe to be 'holy ground'. As you walk through the rain forests filled with silver ferns and hear the bell birds singing and the brook rushing by you can't help but feel that something special happened here.

People speak softer, and behave reverently as they walk through the doors of Te Whare Runanga - the fully carved Maori Meeting House, which is representative of all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand.

Holidays are great opportunities to look around, and in these last few months before returning home to Australia, (more about that next week!) I am taking the opportunity to see everything I can and reflect on the last three years here.