A Visit to He Tohu
- Maddie Barrett
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
He Tohu is a permanent exhibition in Wellington of 3 iconic constitutional documents that have shaped, and continue to shape, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The meaning of 'He Tohu'The name He Tohu means 'the signs', and refers to the unique signatures or marks of those who supported these documents. For Māori these tohu are sacred as those who signed have added their mana. |
A quick History of the Declaration, Te Tiriti, and the Women's Suffrage petition are important founding documents. Click on the arrows to read a little bit more!
1835 He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand
He Whakaputanga is New Zealand’s first ‘constitutional document’ — a document that defines the existence of the nation, who is in control of it, and how it will be run. It is also one of the earliest assertions of Māori identity beyond separate iwi and hapū.
The word ‘whakaputanga’ is usually translated as ‘declaration’, but it can also mean ‘emergence’ — the emergence of a new country.
1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between Britain, represented by William Hobson, and New Zealand, represented by many rangatira. First signed at Waitangi on 6 February 1840, Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the agreement that Aotearoa New Zealand is built on. It has often been hotly debated, and at times ignored or broken but, for many New Zealanders, it remains a source of hope and optimism for our future.
1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition – Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine
The Women’s Suffrage Petition — Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine led to New Zealand becoming the first country in the world where all women gained the right to vote in general elections.
He Tohu is a beautiful whare for displaying these documents. Each room is named with mana and purpose, and the surrounding areas are interactive, visually accessible, and architecturally designed. It is the only place in Aotearoa where one can view all of our founding documents in the flesh.
They also have a YouTube filled with easy-to-follow resources about the 3 founding documents.
A Visit to He Tohu before Waitangi Day
In light of Waitangi Day, the team took a trip to He Tohu as an opportunity to learn more and reflect. There was certainly a lot to read up about, and we wholeheartedly recommend the exhibition, He Tohu.
They offer both guided tours (for yourself) and school tours (for your students)!
Below is a series of photos captured on the team's visit to He Tohu.
