He Whakaputanga

He Whakaputanga
Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand
The first page of He Whakaputanga
Original titleHe Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni
Created28 October 1835 (1835-10-28)
Ratified1836
LocationNational Library of New Zealand
Author(s)James Busby and 35 northern Māori chiefs (including Tāmati Wāka Nene and Bay of Islands brothers Te Wharerahi, Rewa, and Moka Te Kainga-mataa)
SignatoriesUnited Tribes of New Zealand
PurposeProclaimed the sovereign independence of New Zealand

He Whakaputanga, also known as the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand (Māori: He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni) is a document signed in 1835 by a number of Māori chiefs of the northern parts of New Zealand setting out the independence of their country. It preceded the Treaty of Waitangi, which was signed in 1840.