New Zealand History

Treaty of Waitangi - 2 reasons for the British signing

British reason 1 for signing: To establish British authority and regulate the growing number of British settlers.
British reason 2 for signing: To control lawlessness and protect British interests.

When was the Treaty signed?

6 February 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.

Treaty of Waitangi - 2 Māori reasons for signing

Māori reason 1 for signing: To protect their land, authority and communities.
Māori reason 2 for signing: To regulate settlers, maintain peace and benefit from trade.

Treaty misunderstandings - Why?

Why were there misunderstandings? The Māori and English texts differed, and Māori and British leaders had different understandings of sovereignty and authority.

What were the misunderstandings in article 1 of the Treaty?

The Māori text granted kāwanatanga (governance); the English text said Māori ceded sovereignty to the Crown.

What were the misunderstandings in article 2 of the Treaty?

Guaranteed Māori tino rangatiratanga (chieftainship and authority) over lands and taonga; interpretations of control and land sales differed.

What were the misunderstandings in article 3 of the Treaty?

Māori were promised the same rights and protections as British subjects.

Kīngitanga — the Māori King Movement (When, why, who)

When was it created? 1858.
Why was it formed? To unite Māori under one leader, strengthen political influence and protect Māori land.
Who was the first Māori King? Pōtatau Te Wherowhero.

The New Zealand Wars (What was it?)

Conflicts mainly between Māori groups and Crown forces from the 1840s to the 1870s, involving land, authority and sovereignty.

Raupatu (land confiscation, what was it?)

The Crown confiscated large areas of Māori land, causing lasting losses of land, resources and political power.

Who was Hongi Hika

A Ngāpuhi rangatira associated with the Musket Wars, a period of widespread intertribal conflict.

Who was Hone Heke

A Ngāpuhi rangatira who signed the Treaty and later cut down the Kororāreka flagstaff, helping trigger the Northern War.

Who was William Hobson

British official who negotiated the Treaty for the Crown and became New Zealand’s first governor.

Who was James Busby

British Resident who helped organise the Waitangi meeting and advised Hobson.

Who was Pōtatau Te Wherowhero

The first Māori King, appointed in 1858 to unite Māori and protect their land.

Who was Dame Whina Cooper

Māori leader who led the 1975 Māori Land March to protest the loss of Māori land.

Who was Eva Rickard

Ngāti Te Ata land-rights activist who helped lead the campaign to return Māori land at Raglan.

Who was Joe Hawke

Ngāti Whātua leader who helped lead the 1977–1978 Bastion Point occupation to protest the loss of ancestral land.