February 6 - Waitangi Day in Niue

Posted on February 6, 2019

Today's world holiday is actually a New Zealand holiday - see "Waitangi Day in New Zealand" in "Also on this date" below - with a nod to musician Bob Marley's birthday - see that post in "Also on this date," below, as well!

The flag of Niue

The reason that the tiny South Pacific nation of Niue celebrates a New Zealand holiday is because it in "free association" with N.Z. This means that Niue's foreign affairs and diplomatic relations and defense are all mostly handled by the much larger nation of New Zealand, and when the people of Niue join the armed forces or fight in wars, they do so as part of the New Zealand military.

Speaking of the people of Niue, it turns out that almost all Niueans in the world live in New Zealand!

Like I said, Niue is tiny - only about 100 square miles (around 260 square kilometers) - and there are fewer than 2,000 people living there. With such a teeny population, there isn't much economic opportunity - and so about 90 to 95% of all Niueans have moved to N.Z. for jobs and other opportunities. 

The people who have stayed get to enjoy all this:

Can you see why tourism is a biggie on Niue?

Now, about today's holiday: Waitangi Day is celebrated with speeches, concerts, children's sports, fashion shows, and beach outings. Relaxation and reggae music - the latter in honor of Bob Marley - may be the biggest two features of the Niue version of this holiday. 

Also on this date:

Anthropologist Mary Leakey's birthday

Bubble Gum Day

Musician Bob Marley's birthday

Anniversary of Massachusetts's statehood

Anniversary of the first golfing on the moon

Sami National Day

Anniversary of Lame Duck Day

President Ronald Reagan's birthday

Waitangi Day in New Zealand

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

• February holidays
• February birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in February

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

• March holidays
• March birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in March
  
  
  

February 6, 2012 - Waitangi Day

-- New Zealand

Ah, a nice mid-summer day to celebrate with music and dance!

Did I say mid-summer? On February 6? Yes!

New Zealand, along with the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, is enjoying its summer while most of humanity living north of the equator is experiencing winter.

At dawn in a place called Waitangi, flags are raised on the grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Typically, there is a special church service, and shows of song and dance. Several waka (Maori canoes) and a navy ship re-enact the calling ashore of Governor Hobson to sign the treaty. At dusk the flags are lowered in a traditional ceremony.

This is the flag of
the Maori group
that wants a separate,
independent Maori
nation.

In between flag up and flag down, lots of New Zealanders take advantage of the holiday to go to the beach. Some people attend protests because there is a lot of controversy about just what the Treaty of Waitangi said—the Maori version and the English version of the treaty differ!—and what it means today. Even the name of the holiday stirs some controversy: some people have suggested (and even declared and decreed) that the holiday name be changed to New Zealand Day.

Speaking of New Zealand...

Peter Jackson's new movie, The Hobbit, is set in the fantastic landscapes of New Zealand (just as his Lord of the Rings trilogy was). Hobbiton has been built so that it can last and can be a tourist destination, and it looks really charming!  Here is an image gallery, and here and here are videos. 

For more about New Zealand and the Maori people, check out this and this other earlier posts.

Also on this date:

Anniversary of the first golfing on the moon 

Sami National Day