Letters: Pivotal moments in time

The original nine documents of the Treaty of Waitangi are viewed by Archives NZ staff members

In response to the letter from R Anderson (August 29) regarding constitutional documents held by Archives New Zealand.

There are many constitutional documents under the control of the Chief Archivist, all of which are considered taonga.

The three constitutional documents selected for the new He Tohu exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand were chosen, as they represent pivotal moments in the history of our nation.

The Treaty of Waitangi is considered to be the founding document of New Zealand, and has exceptional preservation requirements, while the Declaration of Independence and Women's Suffrage Petition are key instruments of change in the history of our nation.

The remaining constitutional documents that were viewable in the former Constitution Room at Archives New Zealand, are not "lost forever". They are public records, and continue to be available for inspection by the public.

Some documents are very fragile, and can only be seen by appointment with a conservator present. We are in the process of making high resolution copies of all constitutional documents available online.

In the meantime, an easy way to view and learn about these documents is through the Archives NZ Flickr album of Constitutional Papers.

RICHARD FOY
Chief Archivist (Acting)