Treaty of Waitangi
The problems and issues
The First Article
The first article states;
The chiefs of the Confederation and all the chiefs who have not joined that Confederation give absolutely to the Queen of England for ever the complete government over their land.
In other words;
The Queen can sell the Maoris land at her will.
The problems;
The word 'sovereignty' had no direct translation in Māori. The translators of the English text used the Māori word 'kawanatanga', a transliteration of the word 'governance'. Māori knew this word from the Bible. Māori believe that they kept their authority to manage their own affairs and ceded a right of governance to the Queen in return for the promise of protection.
The Second Article
The second article states;
The Queen of England agrees to protect the chiefs, the subtribes and all the people of New Zealand in the unqualified exercise of their chieftainship over their lands, villages and all their treasures. But on the other hand the chiefs of the Confederation and all the chiefs will sell land to the Queen at a price agreed to by the person owning it and by the person buying it appointed by the Queen as her purchase agent.
In other words;
The English said that they were buying the land so they could set the price that they want.
The Problems;
The Maori thought that it said they could set the price.
The English thought that Toanga meant properties and possessions.
The Third Article
The third article states;
For this agreed arrangement therefore concerning the government of the Queen, the Queen of England will protect all the ordinary people of New Zealand and will give them the same rights and duties of citizenship as the people of England.
In other words;
The queen will protect New Zealanders and treat them as if they are English people.
The problems;
The English thought they would now bring in all their social systems - like law - to New Zealand. The Maori didn't want this.
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