www.waitangi.com

Where is 'Waitangi'?
There are several 'Waitangi's' mentioned in these pages, the one in relating to the 'Treaty of Waitangi' is in the 'Bay of Islands' on the north eastern side of the North Island of New Zealand.


What is 'Waitangi Day'?
Waitangi Day, the 6th February each year, is a day set aside by the New Zealand Government as a public holiday to be observed throughout the country as a, 'national day of thanksgiving in commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi' in 1840 between Mäori and the British Crown.
However, the atmosphere surrounding the day, has become somewhat tainted over the years with a combination of persons or groups, and news media playing on the issues surrounding government not properly honouring, in some instances, the intent of the Treaty since it's inaugration in 1840
Hence to many, Waitangi Day merely appears to celebrate the introduction of the Colonial political system and it's pitfalls. Tribal, political or religious pressures have had a great deal to do with the continuation of it as an issue. The idea of Waitangi Day being a public holiday was first proposed by four Labour - Ratana Maori MPs in 1957.


What is the 'Treaty' of Waitangi?
Because of the exploitation of land by some colonists, and problems associated with convicts and a lack of any laws, various of the early missionary, Mäori, and other Europeans considered that Mäori interests would be better protected by the British Crown or Queen. In 1840 the Treaty Of Waitangi was signed.

At the same time however, there was an undesirable element that was most evident in the New Zealand Company (the founders of Wellington and other areas), and this company influenced the British Crown to such an extent, that instead of the Treaty of Waitangi offering the peaceful outcome that was initially intended, it merely portrayed an extension of the N.Z. Company nature, which imposed its own rule and 'protection' over the people's rights and heritage. More on COLONIALISM Read about events that led up to the need for a treaty HERE


Does Waitangi Day have a future?
No, ..not as an 'answer' if it is only going to exalt the same issues over and over again. Maori speak of their 'wairua' or spirit, and there is also a European 'wairua' or spirit, the two being quite different. Uniting them or make them 'one' under the treaty, is like a subtle assimilation process, and is absolutely contrary to the identification of the two peoples.
The wairua of man, should not be confused with the 'Wairua Tapu', or 'Holy' Spirit, which is totally contrary to racialism, or politics etc. It was the presence and leading of this Spirit that the New Zealand Company in their conquest, completely trod down and over-rode.


'You say there were Mäori and Pakeha on both sides?'
Yes, skin colour or race has really nothing to do with it. They are just 'issues' that people use for their own cause.
There were Mäori that stood with the Government against their own people probably because of the promise of financial gain or position, and there were both Mäori and Pakeha that opposed the Government actions.


Did the Treaty have anything to do with the Land Wars? Yes, particularly as it opened the way for Government to purchase land unjustly at lower than market value, this in turn provoking (well deserved) retaliation from some of the original landowners. Of course the Government (which now embodied the intentions of the New Zealand Company), was able to use armed force to back up their wrong-doings. In one instance, a request was even made to England for forces to "protect the missionaries from the Maori". The missionaries of course needed no protection, but that type of request would have had a lot of sway to justify bringing in troops. The missionaries of course, were generally totally opposed to the Government actions. Maori were often to blame for the difficulties as well, as explained on the page The Causes of Many Land Wars.


Did the treaty of Waitangi make a difference?
Yes, it was really necessary for two seemingly legitimate reasons - to establish a law to live by for the 'unruly', and to protect the 'natives' land from being exploited. From that point on it had an effect probably not foreseen, in that it did place some hindrance on the untoward actions of the New Zealand Company towards the Maori, and it created a standard (although legal) by which the Company could be taken to task if in error. If the N.Z. Company actions had not been stopped, then the scene would have been similar to Australia or worse, where the Aboriginees were considered 'fair game' as much as the hunting of rabbits would be.
See also the paragraph above.


What are the key terms of the treaty?
The official terms of the treaty are laid out in Maori and English languages here, and Henry Williams' (the translator) personal understanding on the Treaty are here. If you to read the first 2 or 3 parts of section 1 on the home page, you would see some reasons why the Treaty was initially necessary. For some personal comment on the treaty and modern times GO HERE


STUDENTS!
Please - you are meant to study these things for yourself when asked - and come to your own understanding. You should be able to find most of the answers in these pages.


For a timeline surrounding the Waitangi Day Act and celebrations go to another site NZHistory.net.nz but don't forget to return here.

© G.S. Williams 2001. All Rights Reserved