Waitangi Day!

Waitangi Day is to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on 6th February 1840.

It's not a universal celebration as many Maori activists have staged protests (about treaty injustices) over the years. 

Much more info here.

Interestingly London has one of the largest New Zealand expatriate populations and celebrates the occasion with the Waitangi Day Ball, held by the New Zealand Society UK. The focus of the event is a celebration of New Zealand's unity and diversity as a nation. The Ball also hosts the annual UK New Zealander of the Year awards, cultural entertainment from London based Māori group Ngati Ranana and fine wine and cuisine from New Zealand.

Next year I'll be looking to celebrate in style (ok, maybe not as much style as the London Waitangi Day Ball!) with some traditional kiwi food (they love pavlova In NZ apparently - Kevin will be pleased!) and drink and...maybe... a little bit of a Waitangi day Haka!