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Treaty of Waitangi Introduction

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Treaty of Waitangi Introduction

Read the short story and use its clues to explore the Treaty of Waitangi. Some questions ask you to explain your thinking.

A meeting at Waitangi

In 1840, Māori rangatira (chiefs) and representatives of the British Crown met at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. They discussed an agreement known in te reo Māori as Te Tiriti o Waitangi and in English as the Treaty of Waitangi. Copies were taken around the country, and many rangatira signed. The Māori and English texts do not say exactly the same things, so people still discuss what the agreement means today. The agreement has three articles. In a simple summary, Article 1 concerns the Crown’s right to govern; Article 2 promises Māori authority and protection of their lands, homes and treasured things; and Article 3 promises Māori the same rights as British subjects. The Treaty is important in Aotearoa New Zealand because it shapes relationships between Māori and the Crown.

Read and reason

1.Where and when did the meeting described in the passage take place?

2.Which groups discussed the agreement at Waitangi? Choose the best answer.

Māori rangatira and representatives of the British Crown
Māori rangatira and French explorers
The British Crown and Australian settlers
Local farmers and sailors

3.The agreement has three articles. Match each article to its simple summary.

Article 1
Article 2
Article 3

Māori receive the same rights as British subjects
The Crown’s right to govern
Māori authority and protection of lands, homes and treasured things

4.True or false? The Māori and English texts of the Treaty say exactly the same things.

TrueFalse

5.Fill in the blanks: Many rangatira signed copies of the agreement that were taken around the . The agreement is known in te reo Māori as .

6.Hana says, “Article 2 is about protecting Māori treasured things.” Is Hana’s statement supported by the passage? Give one detail that supports your answer.

7.In the passage, what does the word “rangatira” mean?

Chiefs or leaders
Treaty articles
British subjects
Homes

8.Why might people still discuss what the Treaty means today? Use a clue from the passage.

9.Imagine you are welcoming a visitor to Waitangi. Write a respectful greeting in te reo Māori and give its English meaning. You may use “Kia ora” (hello).

10.The passage says the Treaty shapes relationships today. Give one thoughtful example of how people could build respectful relationships in Aotearoa New Zealand.