Knowra Treaty of Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi The 1840 agreement between Māori chiefs and the British Crown established British governance in New Zealand. Its differing Māori- and English-language texts remain central to Māori–Crown relations.
James Busby : A British official who served as Resident in New Zealand from 1833 and helped prepare the treaty process. As British Resident, Busby helped draft the Declaration of Independence that preceded the treaty.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi : The Māori-language text of the 1840 agreement, signed by most Māori signatories. Its wording differs significantly from the English text on sovereignty and authority.
New Zealand Wars : A series of nineteenth-century conflicts between Māori and the Crown, involving disputes over sovereignty and land. Conflicts exposed how Crown actions could diverge from treaty promises and understandings.
Treaty of Waitangi principles : Interpretive principles developed by New Zealand institutions to guide application of the treaty’s guarantees and obligations. These principles reconcile the texts’ differences for legislation, policy, and Crown conduct.
Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand : A 1835 declaration in which northern Māori chiefs asserted the independence of New Zealand and formed a confederation. Britain recognized this declaration before negotiating a new agreement with Māori chiefs.
English text of the Treaty of Waitangi : The English-language version of the 1840 agreement between Māori chiefs and the British Crown. Its promise of sovereignty to the Crown contrasts with the Māori text’s account of authority.
Māori land loss : The large-scale transfer of Māori land to the Crown, settlers, and private owners through purchase, confiscation, and law. Land alienation became a central grievance addressed through treaty claims and settlements.
Sovereignty in New Zealand : The constitutional question of how governing authority was established and is exercised in New Zealand. Treaty interpretations differ over the Crown’s sovereignty and the authority retained by Māori.
Waitangi Treaty House : The Bay of Islands residence where James Busby lived and the treaty was drafted and signed in 1840. The treaty’s drafting and first signing took place at this house.
Rangatiratanga : Māori authority and self-determination, including chiefly authority and the exercise of collective autonomy. The Māori text promises protection of rangatiratanga, a key source of interpretive disputes.
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