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The Treaty of Waitangi Study

   

Added on  2020-04-07

5 Pages1631 Words47 Views
Treaty of WaitangiThere are two texts of The Treaty of Waitangi. However, the Maori version of the treaty cannotbe described as exact translation from the English version. As a result, much debate has beengoing on regarding the differences, how they appeared and what is the meaning of thesedifferences. It is argued by some persons that there are two treaties, 'Te Tiriti' which is the theMaori version and The Treaty that is the English version (McHugh, 1991). However, it is notclear that how much notice was taken of the precise wording when the treaty was signed. There are certain persons who claim that the treaty has been prepared hastily and by amateurs.Therefore by intention or otherwise, they had used the language which conveyed a particularmeaning in Maori. On the other hand, there are certain others who claim that the instructions thatwere received from the British by Lieut. Governor William Hobson were clear, particularlyregarding land (Palmer, 2008). Therefore, Hobson and his advisers were exactly aware of whatthey were doing when the English text of the Treaty was drafted. At the same time, they werealso guided by the previous treaties. The Maori text of the treaty had been translated quickly, but it was done by the persons whoknew the language well. The missionary Maori, used by them was known to the Chiefs. It alsoconveyed the key words and their meaning. Most of the night of February 5 had been spent byHenry Williams and chiefs discussing the treaty and its meanings (Butler, 2000). It was notsuggested by Williams that any changes should be made to the text of the treaty. Therefore,many persons believe that he did not consider the Maori text of the treaty to be seriouslymisleading. Probably, he selected certain words for the purpose of gaining Maori agreement,although they may appear to be ambiguous when translated from English concepts (Renwick

(ed) 1991). As was the case with many others, he also believed that the welfare of the Maori canbe served in a better way to the British.Now there are many persons who focus on the differences that exist between the English and theMaori text of the treaty, particularly regarding the significant issue of sovereignty. On the otherhand, at that time the oral discussions and the explanations given by Williams would havemattered more than the differences present in the written texts. Regarding the preamble, it has been mentioned in the English version of the treaty that theBritish intention was to protect the Maori interests from being encroached by British settlement,to provide for British settlement and to establish a government having the responsibility tomaintain peace and order. In the Maori text, it has a suggested that the main promises made tothe Maori by the green button provided movement that secures tribal rangatiratanga (mainlyautonomy of authority on their own area) and land ownership by Maori as long as they want toretain it (Knight, 2011).Regarding the first article of the treaty, it hasn't mentioned in the English text that all rights andpowers of sovereignty over their land have been given by the Maori leaders to the Queen. On theother hand, according to the Maori text, the Queen has been given 'te kawanatanga katoa' or inother words, 'complete government' over their land by the Maori leaders. In the Maori language,there is no direct translation of the word sovereignty (Whakaaro, Whakaumu MōAotearoa,2016). Chiefs enjoy authority over their own areas, but there was a lack of a central ruler.Therefore in the translation of English version, the Maori word 'kawanatanga' has been used,which is a transliteration of the term "governance' that was in use at those times. The Maori came

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