Business Environment: Treaty of Waitangi and its Role in NZ Constitution

Running Head: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
Answer 1: Significance of Treaty of Waitangi and its role in NZ constitution...........................2
Answer 2: Conflicting interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi and multiculturalism...............3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................5
Answer 3: Treaty of Waitangi in good business relationship......................................................5
Answer 4: Principles of partnership............................................................................................6
Answer 5: Strategies and action for good business relationship.................................................7
Answer 6: National culture and organizational operations..........................................................9
Answer 7: Application of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions in Wakatu and Royal supermarket of
China..........................................................................................................................................10
Answer 8: Differences in cultural communication and its impact............................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15
Reference.......................................................................................................................................17
Appendix........................................................................................................................................21

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Introduction
Culture is considered to be one of the major aspect that the business organisation must
follow in both domestic and international business practice. The advent of globalisation enhances
the role of culture in global business. In this regard, this report encompasses the partnership
between Wakatu Corporation of New Zealand and the Royal Supermarket of China. In course of
the discussion, the report tries to find out the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi in the business
practice of Wakatu and its implementation in business partnership with Royal supermarket.
Task 1
Answer 1: Significance of Treaty of Waitangi and its role in NZ constitution
The Treaty of Waitangi was a watershed in the history of New Zealand where the rights
of the Maori people was accepted. The treaty is so important for the indigenous New Zealand
people because not only the treaty brought the rights of the Maori people but also enacted the
legal framework for protecting their life and resources. From the research of Came, Cornes and
McCreanor (2018) it can be argued that the Treaty of Waitangi formulated a better relationship
between the Colonial government and the indigenous tribes and compelled the government to
take adequate responsibility for the Maori people. According to Parsonson (2017) the Treaty of
Waitangi was a major step for the colonial government because the tension between the
government and the indigenous people was curbing down and ushered an amicable relationship
between the British crown and the Maori people. On the other hand, Hickford and Jones (2018)
opined that the role and responsibility of the crown government of Britain was transformed
intensely that further supplemented the sense of equality within New Zealand and all the subjects

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of the Colonial government came equal under the law. However, Stevens (2016) pointed out the
dichotomy between the Maori version of the treaty and the English interpretation. As per the
Maori version it claimed that the notion of sovereignty was replaced by the term ‘kawanatanga’
that means governance. The indigenous people started believe that they were free to handle their
own affairs and full authority on their land. On the contrary, the English interpretation advocated
that the treaty enabled the Crown to put extensive rights to buy Maori lands in lieu of
guaranteeing full rights of ownership of the Maori traditional lands.
The impact on the New Zealand constitution was also significant in this context where a
sense of equality in the eyes of laws was implemented. It meant the indigenous New Zealanders
were eligible to participate in the legislative forums. In association to this, the practice of
partnership and protection was also coupled with the legislative framework for the development
of the indigenous people. From the research of Williams (2017) it can be seen that participation
involved the presence of the Maoris in legislative decision making whereas the protection is
associated with the role of the government in safeguarding the culture and rights of the Maori
people. Reservation for the indigenous people had become an intricate part of the constitution to
provide them equal opportunity to make their own decisions properly.
Answer 2: Conflicting interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi and multiculturalism
There was a clear difference between the Maori version of the Treaty of Waitangi and the
interpretations of the Pakeha (White Settlers). The Maori version of the treaty was based on three
articles. In Article I, the Maori people agreed to follow a central administration that will govern
the country but the sovereignty of the Maori people would be intact. In other words, the first
article connoted the establishment of a new government under the rule of the Pakeha (Tawhai &
Gray-Sharp, 2016). Nevertheless, the Maori community would enjoy its sovereignty in decision

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making and cultural practices. On the other hand, Article II, the Maori believed that the Crown
government was going to guarantee the rights and privileges of the native New Zealanders and
provided an exclusive and full authority to the Maori community to possess their natural, cultural
and intellectual treasures. Furthermore, in Article III the Maori people thought that they got the
equal right as the British citizens had. In case of the English interpretation of the text it was way
different from the Maori understanding. The major misunderstanding was created with the term
Kawanatanga. In Maori language it connotes the concept of sovereignty where the Maori people
have the right to possess their own cultural values and practices whereas the English
interpretation was supposed to claim that the Maori people accepted the rule of Her Majesty and
the crown government is responsible to safeguard the cultural uniqueness of the people (Came et
al., 2017). It never provided them absolute sovereignty rather made them subject of the colonial
government. In fact, the possession of lands was also differed from the English version where it
was argued that the Maori people could sell their land only to the crown government. No third
party presence was entertained.
The conflicting perception about biculturalism and multiculturalism in New Zealand
generated further debate about the principles of Treaty of Waitangi. The research of Hayward
(2017) articulated that in the Treaty of Waitangi stated the prevalence of multiculturalism in New
Zealand. In this regard, it can be argued that New Zealand is the home of different cultures and
practices. In fact, the treaty also corroborates the fact that due to the presence of different cultural
practices it is essential to facilitate a sense of multiculturalism in New Zealand. However, in
reality the government also endorsed the Pakeha and indigenous Maori culture that formulated a
bicultural practice rather than the multicultural one. Most of the empirical evidences pointed out
that the Treaty of Waitangi was the initiation of multicultural practices in New Zealand but the

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government intention restricted its progress into a bicultural practice incorporated the Pakeha and
Maori culture. It creates a debate among the scholars whether the country witnesses a
multicultural practice or the treaty ushered a bicultural practice only.
As far as the principles of Treaty of Waitangi are concerned, the major researches are
centred round the concept of partnership. From the research of Kawharu (2018) it can be stated
that the meaning of partnership in the Treaty of Waitangi defined an amicable relationship
between the white settlers and the Maori tribe and the treaty was entitled to deliver an equal
assistance between the two communities in order to develop faith and obligation of partnership.
Task 2
Answer 3: Treaty of Waitangi in good business relationship
There are several principles in the Treaty of Waitangi that can also be implemented in the
context of doing effective business. As far as the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi is
concerned it based on the concept of partnership, participation and protection. Those principles
are also relevant in the context of doing business effectively. For Wakatu and Royal Supermarket
of China the first principle of partnership can be identified in terms of developing a better
relationship between the two companies in order to bring more efficacy into the business
practice. The concept of partnership is related to the basic practice of working together and it can
be achieved through delivering effective communication practice and cultural exchange. On the
other hand, the participation practice is associated with the notion of delivering an effective
participation in the decision making practice. Motiwalla et al. (2017) mentioned that equal
participation of two different companies in a joint venture business relation. It is important for
both the organisation to share a common interest so that a good business practice can be