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Treaty Context and Background
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Treaty Context and Background
📚 Part 1: Historical Context
1. What was Aotearoa New Zealand like before 1840?
Māori iwi and hapū managed their whenua and society
British settlers controlled most of the land
There were no organised communities
Europeans had been living there for centuries
2. Which groups of Europeans arrived in New Zealand before 1840? (Select all that apply)
Traders
Missionaries
Whalers
Government officials
3. Why was an agreement like the Treaty needed by 1840?
To establish law and order
To regulate land sales
To clarify sovereignty questions
All of the above
4. Fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words below:
Word bank: rangatira, whenua, iwi, hapū
Māori _____________ and _____________ were the traditional social groups that managed the _____________. The _____________ were the chiefs and leaders of these groups.
✏️ Part 2: Key Figures and Perspectives
5. Name two types of leaders who were involved in creating the Treaty of Waitangi:
6. Why might Māori rangatira have wanted to sign the Treaty? Give two reasons:
Reason 1: ________________________________________________
Reason 2: ________________________________________________
7. What might British leaders have wanted from the Treaty? Give two reasons:
Reason 1: ________________________________________________
Reason 2: ________________________________________________
8. Match the te reo Māori terms with their English meanings:
Tino Rangatiratanga
Kāwanatanga
Tiriti o Waitangi
Whenua
Land
Treaty of Waitangi
Governance
Chieftainship/Authority
🤔 Part 3: Critical Thinking
9. Explain why understanding the historical context before 1840 is important for understanding the Treaty of Waitangi today:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. What is one question you have about the events leading up to the Treaty of Waitangi?
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