Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington

Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington date

1877

Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington court

Supreme court, currently High Court

Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington judge

Chief Justice Prendergast

Wi Parata

Chief of Ngati Toa

Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington conflict

Wi Parata gave Bishop of Wellington land in exchange for a school to be built on it. 27 years later, school had not been built. Crown granted the church the land. Parata believed native land title had been unlawfully extinguished

Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington ruling

Treaty was labelled “worthless” because it was signed by “a civilised nation and a group of savages.”

Therefore, Wi Parata’s claim was invalid

Significance of Wi Parata v. Bishop of Wellington

Set a new precedent, ruling Article 2 invalid, opposing R v. Symonds