The Aotearoa History Show - Episode 4 | Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Summary

The script provides historical context about the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, intended to establish British governance in New Zealand. It explores the rushed and flawed treaty process, mistranslations between English and Māori versions, and conflicting interpretations of sovereignty versus chieftainship. This set the stage for decades of conflict as the British imposed their authority, sparking wars with Māori who resisted colonization and loss of power. Though some Māori allied with the British, most saw the treaty as severely eroding rangatiratanga promised to them.

Takeaways

• 😳 The Treaty of Waitangi is an important founding document for NZ, but its wording and conflicting translations have led to conflict between Māori and Pākehā
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Treaty was meant to establish a partnership between Māori Chiefs and the British Crown, but there were differences between the Māori and English versions
• 🔥 Land disputes stemming from dubious purchases and poor translation sparked the first conflicts between Māori and settlers in the 1840s
• ⚔️ The Northern War of 1845-46 saw Māori adopt trench warfare tactics that thwarted early British offensives
• 😠 Some Māori saw the growing British rule as exceeding what they'd agreed to in the Treaty
• 👫️ Māori were divided over whether to ally with or fight the British during the NZ Wars
• 🚫 The NZ Company made questionable land deals that later had to be overturned
• 🏙️ The capital was moved from Russell to Auckland and taxes imposed, disrupting life for northern Māori
• ⏳ Initially the British lacked the power to fully impose their will, but the tide shifted as more Europeans arrived
• 📈 European settlement accelerated in the 1850s, setting the stage for more clashes over sovereignty

Q & A

What was the purpose of the United Tribes of New Zealand?

The United Tribes of New Zealand was formed by Māori chiefs and missionaries to try to keep British subjects in New Zealand under control and block French colonization attempts.

Why did Māori sign the Treaty of Waitangi?

Some Māori signed the Treaty of Waitangi because they had already sold so much land that they had no way of controlling the Europeans living on it. They saw British rule as a way to regain control.

How did the Māori and English versions of the Treaty differ?

The Māori version promised Māori chiefs authority over their own people and land. The English version said they ceded sovereignty to the British Crown.

What factors led to the First Taranaki War in 1860?

The First Taranaki War broke out due to disputed land sales in the Taranaki region and Governor Browne's attempts to assert British sovereignty over the area.

How did Māori combat British artillery during the New Zealand Wars?

Māori developed trench warfare tactics including dugouts, bunkers and ambushes to evade British artillery.

Why did some Māori tribes ally with the British during the New Zealand Wars?

Some Māori allied with the British due to personal feuds with enemy tribes or because they felt they couldn't defeat the British in the long run.

What was the result of the Northern War?

The Northern War ended in a stalemate with a peace deal. Most British troops withdrew from Northland.

How did the Treaty of Waitangi set up conflict between Māori and the British?

The contradictory Māori and English versions of the Treaty led to differing expectations about British sovereignty versus Māori independence.

What happened to the Treaty of Waitangi documents after they were signed?

The Treaty documents were neglected, damaged by water and rats, and nearly destroyed in a fire before eventually being rediscovered years later.

Why couldn't Governor Hobson fully impose British rule after the Treaty was signed?

Initially, the British simply didn't have enough military, economic or political power in New Zealand to overcome determined Māori resistance.