The Treaty Of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi took days to set up. But on the 6th of February 1840 the treaty was signed by Maori chiefs and the British government. The treaty was needed because there was alot of conflict between the Maori and Pakeha. They all gathered together under a marquee in the Bay Of Islands. Which had British flags every where. About 40 chiefs signed the the treaty starting with Hone Heke. And by the end of the year over 500 other Maori including 13 women signed the treaty.

Henry Williams translated the English version into Maori. The English version stated that the Maori's would keep their leadership and the chiefs would still be chiefs over their lands and toanga under rights of British subjects.

The communication between the English and Maori was difficult. And they didn’t want to risk the treaty. So they made nine copies. Most of them were made by hand.

Protection, Partnership and Participation. Those three words were in the Treaty and to this day at Point England School we follow these three P’s. Protection means looking after each other while Partnership means two people working together as one and finally Participation means joining in and being apart of something.

I am so glad that the treaty was signed because it bought peace to our nation.