MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1938, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES.

BUYING THE SKY. (Recorded by J.H.S. for "Times-Age.”) On February 5, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi (vale of tears) was “signed” by Maoris who had no idea of its meaning. Their word “utu” was used incorrectly by us to signify payment or value, two things which they could not apply to land. It was beyond value and could no more be transferred than the sea, the air, the sun or the sky, all of which to the Maori were the essentials of life. To them, the land was literally a “living thing,” The Treaty had three articles, couched in legal and academic language, and, to the simple Maori ideals of life, utterly impossible conditions. Article one tickled their romantic fancy by uniting the Queen of England and the principal chief (ariki) in the Maori form of marriage (moe tane). Article 2 first of all gave to the Maori chiefs, the families and the individuals, the undisputed right, title and occupation of what they had owned and occupied for twenty generations! Having thus flattered them by giving their greatest British woman, and acknowledging the Maori right of occupation, which they already possessed, by raupatu (conquest), or ahi ka roa (keeping a fire alight on the land) the Maoris granted their new chieftainess and her children a similar right. This privilege she sacrificed when the matatau (sentinel) gave the equivalent of “No appearance, your worship” at the meeting of welcome to the Royal bride, whose coloured portraits were in every meeting house. Article 3 conferred upon the Maori (in his own land) all the rights and privileges of those pakeha visitors therein! v Practically all the Maori understood was that his tribe were to have a supply of red blankets in return for their hospitality.