Contrasting Perspectives
on the Signing of The Treaty of Waitangi
Hone Heke
Hone Heke allegedly signed the Treaty first, along with the other chiefs at the first Hui. He believed that the authority of the Maori chiefs would be protected, and that they were not letting the Maaori keep their land, as was stated in the Treaty. This was because he had a strong relationship with Henry Williams and trusted him with his word.
Four years after, he realised that the British had failed to colonise his people to economic prosperity, he ordered the flagpole to be cut down. Over the following months, it was cut down and put back up 3 times.
James Busby
James Busby was the British resident living in New Zealand. In 1840, he helped WIlliam Hobson write the Treaty of Waitangi. You can strongly see what he did in article 2, which guaranteed the Maori "tino rangatiratanga" or "full, exclusive and undisturbed possession" of their land.
This caused confusion between the British settlers and the Maori later on, which led on to wars between the two parties.