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Treaty of Waitangi

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TitleTreaty of Waitangi signedDescriptionFrom 'Treaty of Waitangi signed', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/the-treaty-of-waitangi-is-signed, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 6-Oct-2020

More than 40 Māori chiefs signed a treaty with the British Crown in the Bay of Islands. The Treaty of Waitangi remains controversial.

A week earlier, Captain William Hobson had landed at Kororāreka from HMS Herald and proclaimed himself lieutenant-governor of a colony that did not yet exist. His instructions from the Colonial Office in London were to seek Māori consent to British sovereignty. Officials drafted a document to present to a hui of prominent chiefs, especially those who had signed the 1835 Declaration of Independence (see 28 October).

Missionary Henry Williams and his son Edward translated the English draft into Māori on the night of 4 February. Its three clauses transferred kawanatanga (governorship) from the Confederation and individual chiefs to Queen Victoria; guaranteed Māori continued possession of their taonga (property), with the right to sell land to the Crown should they wish; and granted Māori the ‘rights and privileges’ of British subjects.

On the morning of 5 February, about 500 Māori, Hobson’s retinue and local Pākehā gathered on the lawn in front of British Resident James Busby’s house at Waitangi. After Hobson spoke in English, Henry Williams explained in Māori that the treaty was an act of love by the Queen and Busby emphasised that it protected land rights.

Much of the subsequent kōrero – translated for Hobson by the missionaries – favoured the status quo, with missionaries rather than a governor as protectors of Māori. Some chiefs also foresaw the loss of their land. The tide was turned by two influential rangatira, with Tāmati Wāka Nene declaring it was too late to stop Pākehā arriving and Hōne Heke Pōkai advocating a covenant between Māori and the Queen.

Informal debate continued that evening. Hobson had announced that the hui would reconvene on the 7th, but many chiefs were eager to leave for home. When they assembled outside Busby’s residence on the morning of 6th, Hobson was summoned hastily from the Herald to accept signatures. By September 1840, another 500 Māori had signed one of the nine copies of the treaty and British sovereignty over the whole country had been declared.Date6 Feb 1840Geolocation^[1]

Publication (PDF)

Bishop Selwyn Letters - Overview

Copies or Extracts of Correspondence relative to New Zealand

Copies of papers and despatches relative to New Zealand, up to the latest date

Copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society to Lord Stanley, relative to the affairs of New Zealand

Report from the Select Committee on New Zealand together with the minutes of evidence, appendix and index.

Copies of letters from Mr. Shortland, late Acting Governor, and Mr. Busby, late Resident of New Zealand, to Lord Stanley and Mr. G. Hope

Papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand

Papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand : correspondence with Lieut.-Governor Grey

Copies or extracts of further correspondence between Lord Stanley and Governor Fitzroy, and Lieutenant-Governor Grey, relative to New Zealand

Copies or extracts of despatches from the Governor of New Zealand, enclosing or having reference to reports and awards made by Mr. Spain Commissioner of Land Claims ...

Papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand : correspondence with Governor Grey

Further Papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand : correspondence with Governor Grey

Papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand : correspondence with Governor Grey

Further papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand 1850

Further papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand 1851

Report from the Select Committee on New Zealand : together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, and appendix.

Copies or extracts of despatches from the Governor of New Zealand, relating to the management of native affairs and the purchase of native land ...

Correspondence relative to the progress and present condition of the Colony of New Zealand

Newspaper Article

Illustrated London News 1845, v.6

Illustrated London News 1845, v.7

Illustrated London News 1856, v.29

Illustrated London News 1875, v.67

Illustrated London News 1886, v.89

Letter

Letter from Rawiri Te Wanui at Otaki

Letter from Parakaia Te Pouepa at Otaki

Letter from multiple authors at Otaki

Person

Te Ruki Kawiti

William Hobson

Event

Hōne Heke cuts down the British flagstaff

'Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/the-signing-of-the-treaty, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-Aug-2014'Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/the-signing-of-the-treaty, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-Aug-2014'Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/the-signing-of-the-treaty, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-Aug-2014

Connections

PersonWilliam HobsonHōne HekeTāmati Wāka NeneHenry WilliamsJames Busby

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