THE FAMOUS TREATY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 136, 15 March 1940, Page 5

THE FAMOUS TREATY

THE COVENANT OF WAITANGI ONE OF THE SHORTEST KNOWN With the close proximity of the Centennial celebrations, it is fitting that the Treaty of Waitangi which formally made this country part of the British Empire should be read and understood by everyone. For this reason we print hereunder the full text of the actual agreement Avhich was signed one hundred years ago. "Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Ireland regarding with her Royal favour the Native Chiefs and tribes in New Zealand, and anxious to protect their just rights and property, and to secure to them the enjoyment of peace and good order, has deemed it necessary in consequence of the great number of Her Majesty's subjects who have already settled in New Zealand, and the rapid extension both from Kurope and Australia which is still in progress. to constitute and appoint a functionary properly authorised to treat with the aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her 'Majesty's sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those islands. Her Majesty, therefore, being desirous to establish a settled form 1 of Civil Government with a view to avert evil consequences which must result from the absence of the necessary laws and institutions, alike to the native population, and to her subjects, has been graciously pleased to empower and authorise mo, William Hobson, a captain in Her Majesty's It oval Navy, Consul and Lieutenant-Governor of such parts , of New Zealand as may be or here- ] after shall be ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederate and inde- , pendent chiefs of New Zealand to , concur in the following articles and ( conditions. ; Article the First. I The chiefs of the (Confederation of L!:e United tribes of New Zealand, and the separate and inde- < pendent chiefs who have not be- i come members of the Confederation, 1 cede to Her Majesty the Queen of 1 England, absolutely and without re- 1 servation, all the rights and powers I of sovereignty which the said eon- ; federation or individual chiefs re- 1 spectivelj T exercise or possess, or 1 may be supposed to exercise or pos- .<■ ses.s over their respective territories as the sole Sovereigns thereof. 1 I Article the Second. ( Her Majesty, the Queen of Eng- i land, confirms and guarantees to » the chiefs and tribes of New Zea- i land, and to the respective families ■ and individuals thereof the full, ; exclusive, and undisturbed posses- : sion of their lands and estates, forests. fisheries and other properties ( which they may collectively or in- i dividuallv possess, so long as ib is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the chiefs of the United tribes and the i individual chiefs yields to Iler Maj- < esty the exclusive right of pre-emp-tion over such lands as the pro- ; prietors thereof may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective i proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf. Article the Third. In consideration thereof, Her Majesty, the Queen of England,, extends to the natives of New Zealand her Royal protection, and im- ' parts to. them all the rights and privileges of British subjects. 1 1 W. HOBSON, ] Lieutenant-Governor. Now, therefore, we the chiefs of j the Confederation of the United ( tribes of New Zealand,, being as- j sembled in congress at Victoria, in < Waitangi, and we the separate and ; independent chiefs of New Zealand, i claiming authority over the tribes ( and territories which are specified t after our respective names, having been made fully to understand the < provisions of the foregoing treaty, t accept and enter into the same in 1 the full spirit and meaning there- t of; in witness of which we have at- • taehed our signatures or marks at the places and the dates respectively specified. *