My Waitangi Treaty Explanation

What is the Treaty of Waitangi ?

Learning Intention: To use the structure and language of explanation to write about The Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi is a Treaty between New Zealand and the English in which New Zealand would benefit from because they would get protection and supplies but England would own most of the land which the Maori didn’t understand. There was lots of disagreement between Chiefs and Tribes which on Waitangi day nowadays still happens. Waitangi day was first known officially as New Zealand day in 1960, later changed back to Waitangi Day. In 1963 it became a public holiday in the North Island and became a national holiday in 1974.

When was the Treaty of Waitangi ? The Treaty was signed by most chiefs on February 6th 1840, But the soon to be governor sent by Queen Victoria,  William Hobson arrived on January 29th and had six days to write a treaty and get it translated to Maori by Henry Williams to actually get the Maori to agree before they got bored and left. Only forty Chiefs signed that day but others left therefore Missionaries had to travel around the country gathering more signatures, some even from chiefly women. Soon after the Treaty of Waitangi New Zealand had access to many valuable foreign supplies.

After New Zealand signed the treaty, in 1857, people brought in the first dairy cows in because the trading market in New Zealand opened up to most of the world, even though lots of people were still quite reluctant to trade. New Zealand then had a lot more supplies but also a lot more Europeans that were quickly multiplying the population. In the 1870’s the Maori were outnumbered ten to one by settlers as most of them did not know the Treaty rules.

Hone Heke ( a significant chief), cut down the English flagpole three times because he was angry at them, he offered them half of his land and they took that offer but they were greedy and kept on taking more and more of his land. He got angry and wanted to show them he was annoyed and valiant. He chopped it down twice but then the governor placed guards around it. Hone Heke gathered his men and took his men there at nightfall, they quickly scared them off and cut down the flagpole for the third and final time.

Why is there a Treaty? A treaty between England and New Zealand was created to benefit for both countries. Better trade and supplies for New Zealand and the English even said they would give them guns and other valuable resources. But New Zealand would then be part of the English colonies which not everyone agreed with. The English wanted New Zealand to join forces with them so they could take most of their land and then put European settlers on all of the land that they would gain. The Natives wanted to be independent and have freedom. But some Maori like chief Hone Heke thought it would be great because they got tobacco, blankets and can still keep their land, but the thing is they could only keep some, because Henry Williams (the translator) and his son Edward tried to make the Maori translation easier to understand, but he actually accidently changed the meaning.

As the Treaty had brought advantages and disadvantages into New Zealand most people were happy. It had stopped fights between the Maori, although it did bring a couple of fights between the Natives and the settlers. Hone Heke was definitely happy when he signed the Treaty, he even got to put his name at the top and become famous in New Zealand. But he would have changed his mind a bit, especially with the hundred of thousands of settlers flocking into the country quickly taking his land. New Zealand had changed forever and for most people it was great. In the end New Zealand got a very limited amount of protection and they didn’t really stick to the Treaty either.

By Josh