How to Introduce Waitangi Day to Young Tamariki!
Waitangi Day is on the 6th of Pēpuere (February), and this year, I’ve been asked to come into my son’s kura to share it with the tamariki here in Ahitereiria! 🎉
One of the things I love about Mr 4’s kindergarten is how inclusive they are of different cultures, histories, celebrations, and events. Whether it’s Diwali, Lunar New Year, or Easter, they always take the time to learn and acknowledge what’s important to each whānau. So when they asked if I’d like to come in and share about Waitangi Day with the K3–4 year olds, of course, I said āe!
But then I had to think… how do you explain something as significant as Waitangi Day to little kids in a way that makes sense?
Why Talk About Waitangi Day with Tamariki?
Waitangi Day can feel like a big topic, but even young tamariki can begin to understand ideas like fairness, working together, and honouring agreements. These are all values that Te Tiriti o Waitangi represents, and the earlier we introduce these concepts, the more naturally they’ll grow up understanding them.
For young learners, it’s not about teaching the full history all at once, but about making connections to things they already experience—like sharing, listening, and making fair rules together.
Calling in the Experts—You! 💡
Since I know so many of you are amazing kaiako, parents, and educators, I put the call out on social media—how can I make this fun, hands-on, and engaging? And you absolutely delivered!
The response was amazing—from kaiako who have done this before, to parents sharing their own ideas. It reminded me how much support there is in this space, and how we’re all figuring it out together.
Here are some of the best ideas & resources you shared:
📚 Resources for Teaching Tamariki About Waitangi Day
🔗 Twinkl NZ – Free New Zealand Resources
A great collection of free Waitangi Day printables, activities, and teaching resources designed for early learners. Perfect for hands-on crafts, simple explanations, and interactive learning!
🔗 Te Papa – Waitangi Day Activity Book
This free activity book from Te Papa Museum is packed with fun, educational activities to help tamariki learn about Waitangi Day in an engaging way. It’s a great mix of puzzles, storytelling, and hands-on learning!
🔗 Rauora Reo – Waitangi Day Resource Packs (Paid)
Rauora Reo offers 9 high-quality resource packs, including timeline sets, flag colouring packs, and classroom Treaty lessons. These paid resources ($7.99–$49.99) are designed for parents, kaiako, and whānau looking for ready-to-use materials.
🔗Top Teaching Tasks – Waitangi Day Bundles (Paid)
With 21+ interactive resource packs, Top Teaching Tasks provides activity bundles, puzzles, key people worksheets, and more. These paid resources are designed to make learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi both fun and informative for tamariki.
📚 Waitangi Day Books for Tamariki
If you love teaching through storytelling, these pukapuka are a great way to introduce tamariki to the history of Waitangi Day:
📖 The Little Kiwi and the Treaty – Chris Winitana
A curious kiwi learns about the Treaty of Waitangi in this beautifully illustrated story.
📖 William’s Waitangi Day – David Ling
William discovers what Waitangi Day means and how his whānau celebrates it.
📖 Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Ross Calman & Toby Morris
A bilingual book breaking down the Treaty’s history in a fun and engaging way.
Our Waitangi Day at Kura in Australia:
This year, I’m so excited to celebrate Waitangi Day with the tamariki at my son’s kindergarten here in Ahitereiria! Since they’re only 3–4 years old, I’ve planned activities that are hands-on, creative, and easy for little ones to understand.
We’re focusing on the whakataukī “He Waka Eke Noa”—we’re all in this together. It’s such a great way to help tamariki connect with the idea of working together and supporting one another.
Here’s what we’ll be doing:
🎨 Storytime and Conversations – We’ll start with a kōrero about what Waitangi Day means and why it’s special. We’ll chat about ideas like sharing, making promises, and working together—all things tamariki can relate to in their everyday lives.
🚣♀️ Giant Waka Craft – The tamariki will work together to colour and assemble a giant multi-page waka to display in the classroom. Each tamaiti will decorate their own paddle (hoe) with patterns, drawings, or even their name.
🎶 Performing Toia Mai – After we’ve created the waka, we’ll perform Toia Mai as a haka to “raise” the waka onto the wall. The tamariki will get to yell the “Te Waka!” part loudly and pull their imaginary ropes as though they’re hoisting the waka into place. It’s such a fun way to get them moving, engaged, and excited about the activity!
🖼️ “He Waka Eke Noa” Banner – To complete our display, we’ll hang a colourful banner with the whakataukī “He Waka Eke Noa” above the waka. This banner serves as a visual reminder of the importance of kotahitanga (unity) and working together as a team.
🖍️ Want to Try This at Home or in Your Kura?
If you’d like to create your own collaborative waka display, I’ve put together a printable activity pack that includes everything you need:
- A giant multi-page waka
- Individual paddles (hoe) for tamariki to decorate
- A He Waka Eke Noa banner to complete the display
It’s a simple yet meaningful way to celebrate Waitangi Day and help tamariki learn about unity, teamwork, and history.
👉 Download your printable pack HERE!
How Do You Celebrate Waitangi Day?
Since we’re still figuring out what our traditions will look like, I’d love to hear—how do you acknowledge and celebrate Waitangi Day in your whānau?
For some, it’s a chance to kōrero about our history. For others, it’s about coming together as whānau, learning more, or simply recognising the significance of Te Tiriti. However you acknowledge the day, I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or send me a message—I’d love to share more ideas!
Kia kaha e te whānau, and toitū te tiriti!