Beating the Retreat by Royal New Zealand Navy at Waitangi, 5 February 2019

Описание: Royal New Zealand Navy Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset on the Upper Treaty Grounds. Navy band concert and marching followed by the lowering of the White Ensign


Every year on 6 February, New Zealanders and visitors gather at Waitangi to mark the 1840 signing of Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document: Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi.

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is invited annually by the people of Te Tai Tokerau to attend Waitangi Day and perform a range of ceremonial duties.

HMNZS Wellington was anchored off Waitangi.

RNZN involvement in the annual commemorations included Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Ceremonies at the Treaty Ground flagpole on the evenings of 5 February and 6 February. This video is of the ceremony on 5 February.

A 100-person Guard of Honour conducted the ceremonial lowering of the New Zealand White Ensign, signifying the end of the day. The Guard of Honour was inspected by the Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy.

At midday on Waitangi Day, Tuesday 6 February, HMNZS Wellington fired a 21-gun salute to observe the 179th Anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The New Zealand Defence Force Māori Cultural Group also gave a series of performances on the Treaty Grounds.

From the outset, Waitangi Day commemorations have included naval involvement. It was Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand Captain William Hobson, Royal Navy, who, along with Māori rangatira (chiefs), signed Te Tiriti on 6 February 1840 as an agreement between the British Crown and Māori.

Aside from the years interrupted by war, pandemic and weather events, the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and from 1941 the RNZN, have paraded at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on Waitangi Day.