Where is the original Treaty of Waitangi held?
The original Treaty of Waitangi is now held in a secure, temperature-regulated environment at Archives New Zealand Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga o Aotearoa, 10 Mulgrave Street, Thorndon, Wellington.
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What can you tell me about the move of the Museum Hotel?
Over two weekends in August 1993, the Museum Hotel, which weighs over 3000 tonnes, was shifted from its original site in Cable Street (where Te Papa now stands), to a site across the road on the corner of Tory and Cable Streets.
At a cost of over $2.4 million, the Museum Hotel was moved on railway bogies and pushed by eight hydraulic rams. Ninety-six railway bogies were arranged under the building, as well as a grid of steel beams which supported the building when the concrete piles were cut away.
The shift was made in two stages. The first stage involved moving the hotel to Barnett Street where it sat opposite its new site. The second stage involved turning all the bogies to face the new site while hydraulic jacks supported the weight of the building. Then, to an audience of hundreds, the hotel was moved to its current resting place without any serious damage.
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What are the English lyrics to the New Zealand national anthem, God Defend New Zealand?
God of nations! at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star,
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our State,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles, in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country's spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
May our mountains ever be,
Freedom’s ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations' van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.
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What are the Māori lyrics to the New Zealand national anthem, God Defend New Zealand?
E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātouā
Āta whakarongona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa
Ōna mano tangata
Kiri whero, kiri mā,
Iwi Māori Pākehā,
Repeke katoa,
Nei ka tono ko ngā hē
Māu e whakaahu kē,
Kia ora mārire
Aotearoa
Tōna mana kia tū!
Tōna kaha kia ū;
Tōna rongo hei pakū
Ki te ao katoa
Aua rawa ngā whawhai
Ngā tutū a tata mai;
Kia tupu nui ai
Aotearoa
Waiha tona takiwā
Ko te ao mārama;
Kia whiti tōna rā
Taiāwhio noa.
Ko te hae me te ngangau
Meinga kia kore kau;
Waiho i te rongo mau
Aotearoa
Tōna pai me toitū
Tika rawa, ponu pū;
Tōna noho, tana tū;
Iwi nō Ihowā.
Kaua mōna whakamā;
Kia hau te ingoa;
Kia tū hei tauira;
Aotearoa
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When do parliamentary tours occur?
The New Zealand Parliamentary Service provides free tours of Parliament to the public at the following times.
Weekdays: Every hour on the hour from 10.00am until 4.00pm (4.00pm being the last tour time).
Saturdays: Every hour on the hour from 10.00am until 3.00pm.
Sundays: Every hour on the hour from 12 noon until 3.00pm.
They are closed on the following public holidays: Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Parliament is on Molesworth Street, Wellington. For more information, please contact Parliament on ph (04) 471 9999.
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How are the seats of the New Zealand Parliament made up?
Currently, the 120 seats in Parliament are held by:
- sixty-one MPs from general electorates
- six MPs from Māori electorates
- fifty-three MPs from party lists.
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What can you tell me about the Cable Car?
The Cable Car is located at Cable Car Lane, 280 Lambton Quay, and runs to Upland Road, Kelburn.
The Cable Car goes past Victoria University and Kelburn Park to the top of the Botanic Gardens where the Carter Observatory and Planetarium are located. It runs every 10 minutes.
For more information, ph (04) 472 2199
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Where is the closest caravan or campervan site to Te Papa?
The closest caravan or campervan site to Te Papa is Hutt Park in Lower Hutt. It is at 95 Hutt Park Road, Lower Hutt.
For reservations, call toll-free within New Zealand on 0800-488-8727.
For more information ph (04) 568 5913 or fax (04) 568 5914 or email info@huttpark.co.nz
Website: http://www.huttpark.co.nz/
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When and why did Wellington become the capital of New Zealand?
New Zealand’s change of capital from Auckland to Wellington occurred in 1865. The change was due to a need to have Parliament located between the North and South Islands. At the time, there was concern that the gold-rich southern regions of the country would form a separate colony. Wellington, with its harbour and central location, was ideal.
Parliament sat for the first time in Wellington on 26 July 1865.
City status was conferred on Wellington in 1886.
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Where is the National Tattoo Museum of New Zealand?
Contact details for the National Tattoo Museum of New Zealand are:
Address: 42 Abel Smith Street, Wellington.
Ph: (04) 385 6444
Email: undergroundarts@mail.com
Website: http://www.mokomuseum.co.nz/
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Where is the New Zealand Film Archive?
Contact details for the New Zealand Film Archive are:
Address: 84 Taranaki Street, PO Box 11 449, Wellington.
Ph: (04) 384 7647
Fax: (04) 382 9595
Email:info@nzfa.org.nz
Website: http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/
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For more information about Wellington, visit Wellington's official tourism website. WellingtonNZ.com.