Treaty of Waitangi Report Writing

As in the early 1800’s, there was a rising amount of immigrants of British descent coming over to live in New Zealand. Though the lawless country of New Zealand had tensions running high with the state of New Zealand's ‘rules’ set by the Māori being exploited. With masses of land being sold or stolen unsuspectingly from them. While this was happening the british government realized that a treaty was needed to make New Zealand a british colony. While protecting the british citizens in New Zealand from harm's way. The Definition of treaty is: a formal agreement between two or more states*. So the british sent over a representer of the British empire to lodge a treaty with the native Maori.

There was many influential people in the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi such as from both sides of the spectrum such as James Busby. Which before the treaty was the most influential in communication until William Hobson. He was assigned to make treaty negotiations and to represent the british empire and control New Zealand. As a major influencer was Hone Heke, which convinced and pressured the Maori to sign the treaty. Also he was first to sign and which forced the others to sign ,or he would of been the most powerful tribe leader. With himself in the position to control all trade with the british.

The treaty of waitangi was only written in one afternoon with it being translated the next day! As this took place during the lead up to the signing where they invited around 500 Māori to come to the Bay of Islands for treaty negotiations. The majority of Maori were against the idea of british sovereignty and other values portrayed by the treaty. As well some of the words, that were used in the Māori version were unrecognizable words to the maori that could've been portrayed differently! The translated Māori treaty was different to the english treaty. The next day many maori disagreed and refused to sign the treaty though Hone Heke was a big influiser in the signing of the treaty as he was first to sign. After that the british went around the length of New Zealand to all the tribes that didn’t sign and convinced them to. Though 38 chiefs disagreed and refused to sign, but they had enough signatures to claim New Zealand as a British colony.

After the signing of the treaty the relations between the British and Māori deteriorated rapidly with the Māori Land Wars occuring afterwards, but eventually New Zealand became a independent colony. With many parts of the Treaty being dropped like Britain's powers over New Zealand. As at the current time the government is looking into the illegal actions that were committed by the government, with the Waitangi Tribunal looking into claims made by Māori around stolen land.

In conclusion the Treaty of Waitangi was New Zealand's foundering document which binded the Māori and British. As in my personal opinion it wasn’t handled well and wasn’t followed through ,with the Maori Land Wars following after the treaty. Though the treaty has massively helped in the forging of New Zealand as we know it today.