British and Maori: Treaty of Waitangi

The Kingitinga movement is a significant part of New Zealand's culture. It was formed at a time where there were 2,000 permanent European settlers in comparison to 70,000 Maori in 1840. However, due to the events that unfolded before Kingitanga was established are the reason for the quick change in the minority population and the excessive amount of land taken away from Maori. The treaty of Waitangi known as New Zealand's founding document consists of two versions a Maori text and an English text. The two texts weren’t exact replicas of each other leading to different understanding and conflicting expectations. These expectations show the importance of the Kingitanga due to it showing how Maori were taken advantage of and were used for resources as well as land. Maoris' expectations surrounding the treaty were that through the treaty they were to be ruled indirectly clearly stated in the first article of the treaty where it uses the term kawanatanga. This word was familiar to Maori, indicating that they would keep their authority to manage their issues and then hand over a right of governance to the queen in return for protection. However, in the English version, it gives the impression that Maori were to give all power and sovereignty over their land. Maori thought there would be sharing of power but that most authority would remain in Maori hands – Claudia Orange

Another conflicting expectation of the treaty is that they were to retain everything that they already had which is shown in the preamble of the Maori version which was exhibited to them through the work rangatiratanga. This implied to them that they would authority over their land. When the English version suggests that There intentions were to provide for the British settlers by establishing a government that enforced peace and order. The final conflicting expectation is that they could sell through the first right of refusal. By analyzing the second article it is clear that the English text doesn’t suggest this. Instead, it shows that the English were expecting to have full rights to purchasing Maori land. These conflicting expectations of the treaty of Waitangi show the significance of the formation as by building up a monarchy they were progressing in getting back what they had lost due to them being united and being a more powerful force for the English government. Due to the differing expectations of the treaty of waiting British assumed that they had the power to create their own government as they thought that they had power over the whole country. The majority of the governors tried to keep a balance between looking after the needs of Maori and settlers fair and as even as possible. The one governor who didn’t balance the needs of the Maori was Governor George Grey who was appointed in 1845 until 1853. Throughout the 1850s there was tremendous pressure from settlers. However, William Hobson and Robert Fitzroy didn’t persuade Maori to sell land they weren't using in comparison to George grey who took 30 million acres of the south island and 3 million acres of the north island and sold it. His tactic in getting land off Maori was questionable as he tended to pay Maori little and promises were not kept. Land claims were set up in 1841 by the colonial office to investigate all land sales that occurred prior to the treaty. For any claim made above 2,560 acres, the excess land was kept by the crown regardless of whether or not the sale was fair. This shows how it was important to form the Kingitanga as governor grey was appointed twice and was the main reason why the land was taken from the Maori. By forming the Kingitanga it gave Maori a chance to retain the ownership of that sacred land and not to be pushed around by the British.

According to Keith Sorrenson “Kingitanga was an anti-land selling confederation”. However, due to the treaty of Waitangi, the way land was sold changed drastically. After the treaty, the crown had full rights to purchase Maori land. The flaw in the treaty between the English and Maori version meant that they could take advantage of Maori and began to take excessive amounts of land away from them. British settlers found the land extremely desirable due to how fertile it was and the fact that it had essential resources. Maori's attitudes regarding land were that it was their people and that it provided them with turangawaewae (a place to stand). It was sacred and they considered it as there ancestor and that it should be looked after. Pakeha had an extremely different view on land which went against Maoris values. They thought of the land as something that belonged to them. this is why the formation of the Kingitanga movement was important as it meant that they could keep in place culture and traditions that have been a part of the Maori culture for centuries alive. It also meant that they could remain in ownership if their land due to them holding the authority over the British as in 1858 pakeha outnumbered the number of Maori making keeping authority and land harder to keep hold of due to the number of settlers needing to be accommodated as well as the change in customs. When more and more land had been taken from Maori and the growing concern or more being taken they felt the need to obtain some independence from pakeha. Maori felt the need to gain more independence due to them being left out of decision-making due to the government holding communal land ownership. The formation of the Kingitanga is significant as the emerging Maori nationalism came from a place of pride and confidence which is what the Kingitanga stands for. By forming the Kingitanga and getting back the independence that was taken away from them they were able to try and build themself a future that was strong and where they had the power. The emerging Maori nationalism shows how important the movement is to the Maori as they were moving on from their rocky past onto a better future,