The Treaty of Waitangi, , was a treaty that was signed on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi, New Zealand. It was signed by European settlers and by Māori chiefs. It is widely considered to be a founding document of New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi marked the start of the official domination of New Zealand by Great Britain. The legal status and modern relevance of the treaty has been at a disagreement for a long time. The day on which the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, 6 February, is the National Day of New Zealand.