MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

21 YEARS DELAY. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The most powerful of all New Zealand tribes —the Waikato —never signed the Waitangi Treaty. Only six old men (Tangata noa) without standing or authority, who were tempted by the warm red blankets, signed. Potatru, the future Maori King, who was then the principal chief of the Waikato, was strongly urged to sign but refused.

Te Waharoa, the great warrior chief of 'the Ngatihana, never signed. His successor, the eminent Wiremu Tamihana, said: “I am the Chief of Ngatihana. son of Te Waharoa. Neither he. I, or any of our tribe signed the Treaty, so we are not bound by it.” Those who signed in good faith naturally believed its main objective was to obtain a sovereignty which would harmonise and equalise the two races, suppress tribal wars, and stop murder and robbery; above all to stop the sale and traffic in waipiro (smelling water) which was being exploited by white scoundrels as a sedative to induce immoral practices, and dishonest dealings in land. According to the reports of two governors —Colonel Browne and Sir George Grey—no attempt whatever was made by us for twenty-one years to fulfil our obligations to the Maoris under the Treaty. “No Europeans are being taught the Maori language, customs, beliefs, or traditions, and the New Zealand Government is unable to perform its obligations because there are no men trained or qualified available for the service required.”—Strange words for a Governor to have to use 21 years after the Treaty had come into operation.