The Treaty of Waitangi
TKI Hot Topic for February 2004
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed on 6 February 1840, is the founding document of New Zealand. This Hot Topic provides links to websites and resources about the Treaty and the significance of 6 February, the day now referred to as Waitangi Day.
The signing of the Treaty
The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. It represented an agreement between the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs of New Zealand.
There are a number of reasons why a treaty was seen to be needed. These included the increasing lawlessness of traders and settlers necessitating some form of governance, and the interest of other countries such as France and America in colonising New Zealand. The Crown recognised New Zealand as an independent nation after the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1835); consequently, any issues regarding governance needed the formal agreement of Māori.
This agreement took the form of the Treaty.
Waitangi Day
Approximately 45 Māori chiefs signed the Treaty at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. It was then taken to subsequent meetings in the north, before several copies were made and distributed throughout the country to collect further signatures. This process took six months.
Although we commemorate Waitangi Day with a public holiday today, it was not always recognised as such. While annually marked and celebrated as a significant date in the history of New Zealand, Waitangi Day was not declared a public holiday until 1974, when it became known as New Zealand Day. The name was changed back to Waitangi Day in 1976 to honour the significance of the Treaty itself.
Traditionally, the Prime Minister, high-ranking government officials, and often the Leader of the Opposition attend celebrations at the Waitangi. However, in past years protests over the Treaty and subsequent Waitangi Tribunal claims have often meant that senior officials celebrate elsewhere.
Protest and controversy
Much of the controversy around the Treaty of Waitangi stems from the two versions of the Treaty created in 1840. The Treaty was translated into Māori by a missionary, Henry Williams, and his son Edward.
There are differences in meaning between the English version and the Māori version that the majority of chiefs signed. Visit the govt.nz site listed below to compare and contrast the Māori version, English version, and modern English translation of the Māori version.
The Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal was set up by Parliament in 1975 to act as an official investigator into Māori Treaty claims. The Waitangi Tribunal inquiry process aims to contribute to the resolution of Treaty claims and, in that way, to the reconciliation of outstanding issues between Māori and Pākehā.
Resources on TKI
Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day: A History
This exhibition, from NZHistory.net, provides a brief history of how Waitangi Day has been commemorated since Governor-General Bledisloe gifted the treaty
house and grounds to the nation in 1932.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/treaty/index.htm
The Treaty of Waitangi - Te Tiriti o Waitangi
This section of the New Zealand Immigration Service's website provides background information about the Treaty of Waitangi, and links to further
information such as Māori and English transcripts of the Treaty, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), and other related resources.
www.immigration.govt.nz/Treaty+of+Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi - Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840
This page, from the National Archives of New Zealand, features an image of the original Treaty of Waitangi document.
http://www.archives.govt.nz/holdings/treaty_frame.html
The Treaty of Waitangi
This site links to a summary of the Treaty's history and images at National Archives. It also features three copies of the Treaty - the English and Māori
versions as signed, and a modern English translation of the Māori version.
http://www.govt.nz/en/aboutnz
Signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi
This part of the NZHistory.net website has information about the Treaty of Waitangi, records of its signatories, and links to related sites.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/treaty-sigs/index.htm
VisArts/1/1 - B version 2
This assessment material, entitled "Signatures and symbols", examines art and artworks from Māori and European traditions and their contexts. It involves
students researching how symbols and signatures in the artworks of selected New Zealand artists can be related to the Treaty of Waitangi.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/visart1_1Bv2_17may01.doc
eNZed, Ancient and Modern History
Learn about the history of the Treaty, including information about the arrival of the Māori and Captain Cook, and the Māori wars.
http://www.enzed.com/hist.html
The Waitangi Tribunal
Waitangi Tribunal
The official website of the Waitangi Tribunal has information about the tribunal, full and abridged reports, and information and resource kits
for schools.
http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz
Waitangi Tribunal for Schools
This section has frequently asked questions about the tribunal and its work, and resource kits for schools about the Treaty of Waitangi
(past and present); the Kaituna River claim; the Motunui-Waitara claim; Te Roroa; and Orakei.
http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/forschools
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
This is the website of the Waitangi National Trust estate. It has information about Waitangi, the history of the trust, Māori culture, the treaty house,
the waka (Ngatokimatawhaorua), and relevant educational information.
http://www.waitangi.net.nz
Office of Treaty Settlements
This site is an introduction to the Crown office responsible for negotiating Treaty of Waitangi claims. It features recent developments in Treaty
negotiations and implementation of settlements, background information, and online deeds and publications.
http://www.ots.govt.nz
Race relations
Te Pumaomao
Te Pumaomao is a programme delivered from a Māori world view. It addresses and facilitates informed discussion on the state of race relations in
Aotearoa - New Zealand. This is done by addressing the sources and causes of what many people today perceive as racial conflict.
http://www.wananga.ac.nz/Pumaomao/Pumaomao_frames_page.html
Indigenous Peoples and the Law: Ethics and Values
This paper by E.T. Durie is about values and ethics in Māori research. It provides discussion on how customs and values evolve and change and relates
this to the work of the Waitangi Tribunal.
http://www.kennett.co.nz/law/indigenous
Māori and Pākehā Race Relations
This year 11 history activity uses the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography to explore the issue of race relations within New Zealand.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/dnzb/doc/m_p_race_relat.doc
Footsteps of a Nation
This Social Studies Online unit is intended for years 9-10.
www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/footsteps/index_e.php
Cultural Interaction: The Great Immigration Debate
In this level 2 NCEA unit, intended for year 12, students explore the cultural identity of Māori, Pakeha, and Chinese in New Zealand society, and explain
ways in which Chinese immigration to New Zealand has influenced the perceptions and responses of New Zealanders to immigration of new Chinese to New
Zealand.
www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/immigration/index_e.php
Please note: These links were valid when this page was posted. However the Web is very volatile, and TKI has no control over outside websites. Please let us know if you find anything inappropriate, if you find a broken link, or if you have an update for a link by emailing links@tki.org.nz. Te Kete Ipurangi recommends that teachers view all websites we link to before using them with students.