Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
6th February 1840
The signing of the Treaty
* Began on Wednesday 5 February 1840.
* Meeting or hui between Māori and European in a large tent made out of ships’ sails.
* Put up on the lawn in front of James Busby’s house.
* The house later became known as the Treaty house.
The Treaty house at Waitangi
William Hobson Speaks
* Told everyone he had been sent to New Zealand to be its governor, but that this would need to be agreed to by the chiefs.
* Spoke in English, and then Henry Williams translated his words into Māori.
* Read the final draft in English of the Treaty, followed by Henry Williams who read out the Māori translation.
William Hobson
Treaty Difficulties
* The British representatives wrote the Treaty in a hurry.
* They spent seven months working to get as many rangatira (chiefs) to sign it as possible.
* BUT, the Treaty meant different things to different people.
English = "Sovreignty"
Māori would give up their land and possessions to the British Crown.
Māori = "Kawanatanga"
British would have governorship over Māori, but would keep chieftainship of their land and possessions.
Henry Williams - his treaty translation was vital to Māori understanding
Treaty Debate
* Debated for five hours about signing.
* The northern chiefs Hone Heke and Tamati Waka Nene agreed with signing the Treaty and eventually convinced the other chiefs to sign too.
* Talked amongst the Māori continued into the night
Hone Heke
* Next day they had decided to sign the Treaty and return home.
* More Māori were allowed to sign as long as they didn't discuss it anymore.
* Agreed that people in New Zealand could follow any religion they chose, including Māori custom.
Thursday 6th February
Treaty signing at Waitangi
The Chiefs Sign
* First Māori to sign was Hone Heke.
* A total of 43 chiefs signed.
* As each chief signed, Hobson said "He iwi tahi tātou", which for a long time was translated as “We are now one people.”
* The chiefs were each given two blankets and some tobacco.
* Hobson was presented with a greenstone mere (a club) from a northern chief.
A greenstone mere
The Treaty Travels
* Māori text of the Treaty was taken around Northland to be signed by more Māori.
* Several copies were sent elsewhere in New Zealand.
* English text copy was also signed.
* By the end of 1840 over 500 Māori, including 13 Māori women, had signed the Māori text.
* Some important chiefs did not sign.
Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?
What have you learnt about the Treaty so far?