Exploring the Treaty of Waitangi: Rights, Equality, and Social Welfare

This essay provides a discussion on the Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement between the British Crown and Maori Chiefs in 1840, shaping New Zealand's political landscape and the relationship between the government and the Maori population. It explores the concept of nationality rights, focusing on the interpretation of "similar rights of nationality" and "equality" within the treaty. Some view the treaty as ensuring social welfare and equality of outcome, while others see it as guaranteeing equality of opportunity and impartiality under the law. The essay highlights the importance of equal access to resources like healthcare and education for all communities, emphasizing that disparities between Maori and non-Maori populations indicate a failure to deliver the mutual benefits promised by the treaty. It concludes by acknowledging the need for tailored social policies to ensure fair access for everyone.

Running Head: TREATY OF WAITANGI
0
TREATY OF WAITANGI
Discussion
Student
3/26/2019

TREATY OF WAITANGI
1
Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi is actually an agreement proposed between the delegates of the British Crown and more
than five hundred Maori Chiefs in 1940. It is a document focused on the history and the political composition of the
state of New Zealand, and enclosing the political association among the New Zealand’s government bodies and the
Maori Population (Wheen, & Hayward, 2012).
If one receives that nationality rights comprise social rights, the discussion turns to the sense of the saying
"the similar rights of nationality", and the sense of "equality". One opinion is that the Treaty concerns the real
gratification of social welfares, and promises "equality of outcome". Some claim that Article three assures the
equality of opportunity or impartiality under the regulation. Under this opinion it is appealed that equivalent rights
of nationality are attained where the regulation makes no differences between Māori and the non-Māori (Wheen, &
Hayward, 2012). The treaty of Waitangi also assured more Maori and non-Maori will be treated equally. Such type
of right cannot be used completely unless there is reasonable access to every community’s goods, counting health,
learning and all the requirements of a decent living standard. Inequalities among Māori and non-Māori in profits,
health position, learning achievement, and labour force contribution, designate that particular Māori have not
relished the mutual benefits assured to all people under the Treaty agreement. It is usually acknowledged by the
social policy area that one plan for all does not provide unbiased access to everybody (Royal Commission on Social
policy, 1988).

TREATY OF WAITANGI
2
References
Royal Commission on Social policy. (1988).The treaty of Waitangi and Principles for Social policy in the April
Report (P.O.47-69). Royal commission on Social policy
Wheen, N. R., & Hayward, J. (Eds.). (2012). Treaty of Waitangi settlements. Bridget Williams Books.