They wanted
help to stop
British people
who were
living in NZ
causing
trouble
(lawlessness)
Chiefs would
still have
control over
their tribes
Maori wanted to
stop bad land deals.
Some had been
cheated out of land
by greedy British
traders
Britain was a
major world
power, so
having their
protection
be good for
Maori
It would
preserve the
trade between
themselves and
the British
The Treaty
would
bring
permanent
peace to
the
country
The Missionaries
recommended it, for
Maori’s own good
The British
would protect
them from
France or other
countries
By 1840 there were about 2000
Europeans/Pakeha living in New Zealand.
Most of them were British
There were no law courts or police to
stop them committing crimes
Even more British people were
considering moving to New Zealand.
They were asking for help to buy land
The missionaries asked the British government to be more
involved in New Zealand as they believed Maori would be
better protected from lawless Pakeha and illegal land sales
Because New Zealand was an independent country, the
British could not just walk in and make demands
Maori chiefs controlled their tribal areas, so the British
needed to make a treaty with them first
Captain
William
Hobson was
sent to NZ
to make an
agreement
on behalf of
Queen
Victoria
The meeting is
adjourned for two
days. Further
discussion would take
place then
Hobson, his
secretary James
Freeman &
British Resident
in NZ James
Busby drafted a
treaty
Missionary
Henry
Williams
translated the
treaty into
Maori (he
was not an
expert)
A discussion of
more than five
hours occurred.
Chiefs were divided
in their opinions
On 5th
February
1840 in front
of the chiefs,
Hobson reads
the treaty in
English
Chiefs wanted to
restart
discussions as the
food was running
out. Some had
even decided to
go home
THE TREATY
IS SIGNED
At midday
Hobson declares
that there will be
no more
discussion. He
will only take
signatures to the
treaty
Altogether 45 Maori
leaders sign the
treaty. Most do so
with a mark. Gifts
are given to each
chief who signs –
two blankets and
tobacco
The treaty is
read again by
Williams, in
Maori
Missionary
printer
William
Colenso asks
if the chiefs
actually
understand
what the
treaty says.
Hobson
ignores him
• Many copies of the treaty are made and taken
around New Zealand for signing
• Altogether almost 500 signatures are added
• Some very important tribes refuse to sign e.g. Waikato
Tainui
• Some areas do not get the chance to sign
e.g. much of the South Island
• By the end of June, Hobson declares that NZ is
now part of the British Empire
• By the end of October, this is made official
• Henry Williams who translated the treaty
from English to Maori, was not an expert
in the Maori language
• The Maori version is not an accurate
translation of the English version
• Most Maori signed the Maori version,
meaning that should be the one accepted
• Not all important chiefs signed the treaty – some simply refused to sign
• Some chiefs were never even asked to sign
• The treaty was taken around the country for chiefs to sign, but chiefs were
sometimes persuaded by the advice given by missionaries who brought the
treaty to them
The English version gives the Queen of England
SOVEREIGNTY over New Zealand
The Maori version uses the word KAWANATANGA for
sovereignty. This means GOVERNORSHIP. The word used
should have been MANA or RANGATIRATANGA
Maori believed the treaty would help them to keep
their mana or control. The Queen would only govern
New Zealand not control
The British believed that they had achieved possession and control
In the English version, Maori were guaranteed full possession of
their lands, forests, fisheries and other properties
In the Maori version, the word TAONGA was used. This means
all treasures which includes all things precious such as culture
and language
Also, the British wanted Maori to sell their land only to the
British crown. Maori believed that the British had only secured
the first right of refusal on land Maori wished to sell. Maori did
not have to sell to the crown, they could sell it to others after
first offering it to the crown
Both versions gave Maori
the same rights and
privileges of British citizens
However, Pakeha did not
have to sell their land to the
crown, but Maori did –
therefore they were not
being treated differently
‘He iwi kotahi tatou. We are now one people’ (Hobson)
‘Only the shadow of the land passes to the Queen. The
substance stays with us, the Maori people’
(Chief Nopera Panakareao)
‘You yourselves have often asked the King of England to
extend his protection unto you. Her Majesty now offers
you that protection in this Treaty’ (Hobson)
‘You must preserve our customs and
never permit our land to be taken
from us’
(Tamati Waka Nene of Ngapuhi)