MAGNA CHARTA OF THE MAORIS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 10

MAGNA CHARTA OF THE MAORIS

Historic Waitangi Document : British Rule in New Zealand

On January 29, 1840, Captain William Hobson, of the Royal Navy, arrived at the Bay of Islands to take up an appointment as Lieutenant Governor of the islands of New Zealand. Next day the British flag was hoisted and the country taken in the name of Queen Victoria and as part of the colony of New South Wales. At that time New Zealand had the reputation of “No Man’s Land,” the rendezvous of the worst elements of society, and all hopes of colonising the country after its discovery by Cook had been abandoned. Through the missionaries overtures were made by the Maoris to have some measure of protection afforded them from speculators who threatened to deprive them of their land, and the results of the negotiations were the arrival of Captain Hobson and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Sealers and whalers were amongst the earliest visitors to these shores. A thriving business, the forerunner of the dairying industry, had become established and annually hundreds of prospectors flocked here in search of fortune. Many of these were men of whom the country might well be proud, but as time went on the place was over-run by deserters from trading vessels, which arrived to gather masts and spars, and escaped convicts from the already over-populated penal settlement in Australia. It was no small wonder that the Maoris resented the invasion of their country by individuals such as these. Distrust of the European was growing rapidly amongst the natives, who, in some cases, resorted to force to obtain their ends. News of the fate of many a ship’s crew leaked into authorative quarters in London and British investors were loath to risk their fortunes and their lives in a country such as this. About that time the Rev. Samuel Marsden, senior chaplain at the Port Jackson settlement, interested himself in the New Zealand natives. Here he believed was a race of savages which, with careful handling, could be prevailed upon to play a great part in developing the country and laying the foundations of a thriving colony. Marsden placed his case before the English Church Missionary Society and in 1814 he was permitted to establish a mission station at the Bay of Islands. His kindness and respect for the natives won him the confidence of a great number of influential chiefs. Transfer of Land As time went on more missionaries found their way into New Zealand. In 1823 the Rev. Henry Williams set up a Church of England mission station at Paihia. Already the Wesley - ans had commenced working amongst the Maoris, and under their guidance the natives received instruction in the arts of peace and progress. Confidence in the future of the country grew rapidly overseas and more and more colonists arrived in the north. Land was what they sought and in a very short time prosperous settlements had sprung up in various parts of the island. An iron axe or a few brightly-coloured blankets attracted the eye of the native owners, who were quite willing to dispose of any amount of territory for these prized objects. Real value did not enter into the transactions and the rapid transfer of the land to the Europeans aroused the concern of most native elders. Besides, most of the vendors were only part-owners in the concerns which they so willingly disposed of. The missionaries did .all they could to prevent this “land grabbing,” but eventually were compelled to approach the British Government with a view to having some protection afforded the natives. Up to that time British attempts at colonisation had failed badly and the idea of annexing a lawless country like New Zealand did not appeal to the authorities. French designs on the territory were well known, however, and it was partly that which prompted the home Government in 1833 to despatch Mr James Busby, a New South Wales civil engineer, to New Zealand with the title of British, resident. His task was no means an enviable one and not only did he become involved in disputes with the colonists, but also with missionaries.

being executed in London and involving land over which the vendors had no title, while fighting had broken out between the Maoris and the white settlers in the Bay of Islands. Captain Hobson was sent to restore order and on February 5, 1840, at Waitangi, he placed the proposals of the British Queen for assuming responsibility of the disposal of native land to the white settlers, before a gathering of chiefs. The next day the Treaty of Waitangi, Magna Charta of the Maori race, was drawn up and 78 signatures were attached. By the end of the following June altogether 541 chiefs had signed. The Treaty The text of the treaty was:— “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 of emigration both from Europe 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 aovereign authority over the whole or any part of those Islands. Her Majesty, therefore, being desirous to establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view to avert the 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 me, William Hobson, a Captain in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, Consul and Lieutenant-Governor of such parts of New Zealand as may be or hereafter shall be ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederate and independent chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following articles and conditions:— Article I.—The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation, cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England, absolutely and without reservation, all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said Confederation of individual Chiefs respectfully exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess, over their respective territories as the sole sovereigns thereof. Article ll.—Her Majesty, the Queen of England, confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand, and to the respective families and individuals thereof, the full, exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates, Forests, Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it ii their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf Article lII.—In consideration thereof Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand her Royal pro f ection and imparts to them all the rights and privileges of British subjects. —(Signed) W. Hobson, Lieutenant-Governor.” Tribes Grow Militant Although the Waitangi document gave to the Maoris a certain amount of protection it was not sufficient in the opinion of some of the tribes. The result was that these militant sections of the race organised in an attempt to end British rule in New Zealand. Wars broke out during the next 50 years at various points rnd it took a big army of British and colonial troops to put down the risings. The gallantry displayed by the native defenders, whose undying patriotism had prompted them to present such stout opposition, earned them the respect and admiration of their Pakeha opponents.

The stage had been reached when the British Government would have to decide whether or not New Zealand was to become part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Already deals were