New Zealand History - The Treaty of Waitangi

In 1840 William Hobson invited assembled Maori chiefs to sign a treaty with the British Crown at Waitangi, Northland. This group of nine documents, named Te Tiriti o Waitangi, is now known as the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty of Waitangi is a set of documents that has had a significant impact on New Zealand’s history and culture since its signing in February 1840. It lays down a framework for the peaceful coexistence between Maori and the British.

Its purpose was to establish a partnership between Maori and the British, but different interpretations of the Treaty terms by both parties and subsequent breaches have led to much conflict. The treaty also paved the way for Maori to be represented in parliament with reserved seats, and later, general electorates.

On 6 February 1840, a gathering of rangatira in Waitangi signed the Treaty and this was the start of a process of establishing Maori as New Zealand’s indigenous people. It was to be the foundation of a partnership between Maori and the government and was intended to facilitate the formation of one people, according to dictum by Hobson, the first Governor of New Zealand.

This was not achieved, however. In the years that followed, Maori resisted assimilation and attempted to maintain their unique cultures. This was a hard battle against the new, fair-skinned European settlers.

In the 1860s Maori fought a series of wars with the British. These lasted for decades and resulted in lost lives, livelihoods, and land.

A large part of this was due to the Treaty, which made it illegal for Maori to sell their land to settlers. The treaty also established that the British could only buy Maori land through a process called ‘pre-emption’. This allowed the Crown to buy two-thirds of all Maori land and was a major cause of the 1860s war.

The treaty was signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, on 6 February 1840 and it was taken around New Zealand for several months by local Maori chiefs. Forty-three Maori from Northland signed the document on that day, and over 500 Maori signed it as it was taken around the country.

There are two texts of the treaty, one in te reo Maori and one in English. The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 requires the Waitangi Tribunal to decide issues raised by the differences between these texts.

These texts can be confusing to those not fluent in both languages and the differences in wording between the English text and the te reo Maori text have caused many disputes. The Waitangi Tribunal is tasked with making legal decisions about claims to Maori land and other resources, which can often result in settlements between Maori and the government.

The Waitangi Tribunal has been a key part of Maori gaining rights over their lands and resources. These can include cash and land, as well as fishing and farming rights. The Tribunal also makes legal decisions about whether Maori have been treated unfairly or wrongfully in the past. This can result in large settlements for iwi, some of which are put to good use by the iwi building major commercial enterprises and becoming important employers.

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