Inside Waitangi Treaty Grounds, New Zealand

Waitangi, located in the Bay of Islands of New Zealand, is best known for being the location of the signing of both the Treaty of Waitangi and the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand. This treaty is considered the founding document of New Zealand, and the site preserves the land and several meeting houses that were built to celebrate the conception of New Zealand and Maori independence.

Today the site of Waitangi is a hot spot for tourists and locals alike, and there are many educational opportunities that are promoted by the site authority, Waitangi National Trust. The site includes a museum and gardens that showcase native plants and cultural art and artifacts. The centers feature traditional Maori performances and carving studios. There are celebrations every year that occur at the site to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Different interpretations of the treaty have been debated throughout time, and there have been many protests performed by Māori asking for the terms of the treaty to be upheld today. There are current efforts to study the treaty and interpret its meaning in modern New Zealand in order to uphold and honor the original terms. Today more than 2000 claims have been filed with the Waitangi Tribunal in complaint of breaches of the treaty. 

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds were documented by CyArk in December 2017 using a combination of terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR laser scanning. Documentation was completed on the entire site extents with higher fidelity capture at the Te Whare Rūnanga (the carved meeting house), the Treaty House as well as the Ngātokimatawhaorua (the ceremonial war canoe). The data will be used by the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in ongoing management and promotion of the site. The work at Waitangi was completed through generous support from Air New Zealand.