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Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia is urging all New Zealanders to view the Treaty of Waitangi as it tours the country.
Treaty 2 U uses replicas of the original treaty and will visit 27 centres during the next three months. The original treaty is on permanent display at Archives New Zealand in Wellington.
"The Treaty of Waitangi continues to help us understand the past, make sense of where we as a people are now and builds on our national identity for the future," Mr Horomia said.
The exhibition covered the events leading up to the Treaty, from first contact between the parties to lengthy debate the night before signing.
It also explained what was written in the documents and the crucial differences between the Maori and English versions.
"The exhibition follows the documents' journeys during 1840 as more signatures were sought. And it looks at the varying expectations held by Maori and other groups."
The exhibition is organised by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Archives New Zealand, and the National Library of New Zealand.
- NZPA