The Treaty Of Waitangi

If you grew up in a New Zealand school or have literally ever watched the news in February, you’ll know about the Treaty of Waitangi. First signed on 6 February 1840, the treaty continues to be a controversial topic surrounding the countries history. So why was it ever signed? Whalers basically going crazy, Europeans missionaries vying for Māori rights, infighting and the musket wars, plus the Declaration of Independence all played a part in the creation and signing of the treaty, proving that back then the treaty was truly needed. 

With the continuing influx of European whalers came a high increase in absurd behaviour, leaving the country in a need of a treaty. Instilling a treaty between the two countries would introduce laws and regulations, restricting the lawless behaviour of the whalers. In the early 1830s, the contrast of Europeans compared to the Māori was huge. There was an estimated 100,000 Māori compared to the 200 Pākehā. Of this 200, there were many a whaler. Once arriving in places like Kororārika after spending up to three months on the sea, whalers would begin to lose any order. In an attempt to wind down from the no-less-than dangerous job, they would get drunk in local bars, have insane parties, and usually end up starting fights. They would take advantage of the local prostitution, as sex would pay for the purchase of a lot of things, including muskets. Furthermore, in some cases, they would spread diseases or even kill. This behaviour made the Europeans think twice about their treaty-less status.

Missionaries, religious messengers, played a large role in the signing and promotion of the treaty. Without their word, protecting Māori’s rights, such as their land and their trading, may have been overseen by the rest of the Europeans. The first missionaries landed in New Zealand in December 1814, following Samuel Marsden. Throughout their stay in New Zealand, the local missionaries tried their best to sustain good relationships with the Māori people. Over time, they taught them how to read in write in Māori and tried to convert them to Christianity. As a ploy to do this, the Christian Bible was translated into the newly created Māori language. The missionaries would spend days travelling by horse to meet their converting-based mission. Watching events play out, they began to grow concerned for the Māori, who, at the time, was slowly decreasing in population and losing their land. So to help, the missionaries promoted the Treaty of Waitangi to Māori and European alike. In a huge attempt to protect Māori rights, missionaries were an important factor in needed the treaty.

Ah, the musket wars. Set off by the increasing number of muskets traded for flax, and other goods, with the Europeans, thousands of Māori were killed, significantly damaging their population. Between 1807 and 1842, over 3,000 battles occurred throughout New Zealand tribes. The first few were results of a rivalry between Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whātua, as the north island tribes were some of the first few tribes with access to the long-barrelled guns. With the sudden decrease in population, it was time they needed a treaty. Though over time the fights became fair and more difficult, the substantial amount of deaths was a concern to Europeans, mostly missionaries. Following the treaty, new rules and regulations would be implemented in order to contain violence and death. As with the newfound partnership through the treaty came protection, a treaty being introduced would protect the Māori against whatever means necessary. So, without the rapid increase of wars due to musket trading, there probably wouldn’t have been a need for protection, therefore the musket wars contributed to the creation of a treaty.

Why would New Zealand need a treaty, the Treaty of Waitangi, if there was already a Declaration of Independence in play? Well, interestingly enough, the Declaration of Independence was merely a portal of which the negotiations for a treaty could begin. Signed in 1835 by 35 Māori leaders and 4 British representatives, the document stated that the native people of New Zealand, the Māori, held sovereignty over the land but were only able to trade with the British. It was designed to promote and protect the rights of Māori, as well as recognise them as a national identity. Previously, not one chief had authority over a larger iwi and everyone lived in their extended families, smaller hapu. James Busby, the man who drafted the document, saw it as a step toward the country being under the British crown after helping 25 Rangatira choose a flag in hopes of creating a government down the line. So, basically, the Declaration was signed to give Māori the sovereignty of the country so that they could sign it away in the Treaty of Waitangi. Despite this, in order to have the treaty signed, the Declaration of Independence needed to be revoked, meaning that the same people who signed the Declaration needed to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. So, consequentially, to get the treaty signed and officiated, the Māori and the Europeans would’ve actually needed the Declaration of Independence.

Following the numerous events throughout our history, we can see that the Treaty of Waitangi was truly needed in order to advance the country. Without it, whalers would continue in their pandemonium and the musket wars would have continued. Missionaries would have been yearning over nothing and the Declaration would have served little to no purpose to the Europeans. Going forward, the topic of the Treaty of Waitangi will probably continue to be controversial, that’s okay. Everyone deserves an opinion. When we look back, we should always see why New Zealand had a treaty in the first place, and how it truly affected the country. Whether you agree or not, these facts are there and shouldn’t be ignored. Use them to your advantage. So there. From this, I think we can all agree. New Zealand, at the time, really did need the treaty.