Painting by Marcus King showing a Māori chief Tāmati Wāka Nene in the act of signing the Treaty, surrounded by dignitaries (Māori and Pakeha), in a tent decorated with flags

1840 Treaty time machine

Through role-play, ākonga will be immersed in a dramatic recreation of the signing of our most prominent national document. Rangatira, missionaries, rogues, and Governor Hobson himself will 'come to life' in this reimagining of our founding story.

Key details

Suitable for: Years 3 to 8

Learning areas: Social sciences (including history), English

Duration: 2 hours

Cost: Free

Available: All year

Founding document: Te Tiriti o Waitangi — Treaty of Waitangi

He Tohu themes: The documents, people, living together, our future

What ākonga will learn

Ākonga (students) will learn about the:

  • dynamics of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1840

  • concept of 'treaty partners'

  • relevance of our founding document to citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand today.

What ākonga will do

Participate and contribute to:

  • role-play

  • group work

  • student-led activities.

Book this programme or find out more

Book now

Email the Senior Education Specialist, He Tohu Tāmaki at servicestoschools@dia.govt.nz.

The Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, February 6, 1840 by Marcus King. Archives New Zealand on Flickr. Some rights reserved: CC BY 2.0. Image cropped.