Why we include Important dates in our history in our planners
When we first started designing our bilingual planners, one of the questions we asked ourselves was: “What do we want to see in our daily tools that we’ve never seen before?”
The answer came quickly — our own history.
For many of us growing up in Aotearoa, “history” meant world wars, European monarchs, or American civil rights. I recall learning so much about the British monarchy during my 7th form (Year 13) history classes. Rarely, if ever, were we taught the history of our own whenua, our own people. We could recite the names of foreign leaders but knew little of Bastion Point, Parihaka, or even the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi beyond a surface level.
Adding one simple page of Important Māori dates into our planners was our way of changing that — for ourselves, our whānau, and our communities. What we didn’t realise at the time was how much it would resonate with our customers too.
The ripple effect of one page
It was a small act, but it carried weight. People told us:
- “I never knew about some of these events until I saw them in your planner.”
- “I feel proud that my kids can open a planner and see our history acknowledged.”
- “It makes me realise how much has been suppressed, and how important it is that we reclaim it.”
That one page became more than a list of dates. It became a statement: that our language, our culture, our mātauranga, and our history are not just valid, but vital. That by writing them into our everyday tools, we normalise remembering, acknowledging, and celebrating them.
Key Māori dates in 2026
Here are some of the significant dates you’ll find in our 2026 planners:
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6 February 1840 – Waitangi Day
Commemorating the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. - 5 January 1977 – Bastion Point occupation began
Remembering the occupation at Takaparawhau that lasted over 506 days, a defining moment in modern Māori land rights.
- 5 November 1881– Parihaka Invasion
Honouring the passive resistance movement led by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi in 1881. We felt more young people knew the story of Guy Fawkes on this day, when there was more important history of Aotearoa to remember.
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Matariki (exact date varies)
The Māori New Year — a time of remembrance, celebration, and renewal, now a national public holiday. - Other iwi and hapū commemorations built into our planners, reflecting the many histories across Aotearoa.
Each date is more than just a marker. It is a reminder of resilience and mana motuhake — the ability of our people to hold on to identity, rights, and vision for the future.
Contemporary dates: history is still being made
When we talk about “important dates,” it’s not only about events from over a hundred years ago. History is still being written today. That’s why our planners also include contemporary dates that have shaped our people and our whenua in recent decades.
For example, in 2026 our planner will reflect a change in the koroneihana commemorations. After the passing of Kīngi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII on the 30th August 2024, we now recognise the ascension of Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te Po Paki.
. Leadership transitions like this aren’t just ceremonial — they carry deep significance for our people and are part of our living history.
We’ve also marked events like the release of the film on the Tūhoe raids, a powerful reminder of how state actions impacted Māori communities within our own lifetime. For many, that movie opened up conversations that had long been silenced.
And we’ve included the Tiriti o Waitangi hīkoi, because our tamariki need to grow up knowing these movements happened — that ordinary people walked, marched, and raised their voices to demand justice and recognition.
These dates remind us that history is not something buried in the past. It is being created around us, and it deserves to be remembered, acknowledged, and taught to the next generation.
How this ties into the Tuhi kaupapa
Our kaupapa has always been about more than stationery. It’s about making tools that honour our heritage while helping us thrive in the modern world. Including Māori dates is part of that kaupapa — blending mātauranga Māori with practical daily planning.
It’s not just about remembering the past. It’s about recognising that our history shapes our present and can guide our future.
Final thought
When we first added “Important Māori dates” into our planners, it felt like a small design choice. But it became a powerful way to reclaim our stories, amplify suppressed histories, and remind ourselves — every day — of the resilience and achievements of our people.