He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni
1 Ko matou, ko nga Tino Rangatiratanga o nga iwi o Nu Tireni i raro mai o Hauraki kua oti nei te huihui i Waitangi i Tokerau i te ra 28 o Oketopa 1835, ka wakaputa i te Rangatiratanga o to matou wenua, a, ka meatia ka wakaputaia e matou he Wenua Rangatira, kia huaina ko te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tireni.
2. Ko te Kingitanga ko te mana i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni ka meatia nei kei nga Tino Rangatira anake i to matou huihuinga. A, ka mea hoki e kore e tukua e matou te wakarite ture ki te tahi hunga ke atu, me te tahi Kawanatanga hoki kia meatia i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni. Ko nga tangata anake e meatia nei e matou e wakarite ana ki te ritenga o o matou ture e meatia nei e matou i to matou huihuinga.
3. Ko matou ko nga Tino Rangatira ka mea nei kia huihui ki te runanga ki Waitangi a te ngahuru i tenei tau i tenei tau ki te wakarite ture, kia tika ai te wakawakanga, kia mau ki te rongo, kia mutu te he, kia tika te hokohoko. A, ka mea hoki ki nga tauiwi o runga, kia wakarerea te wawai, kia mahara ai ki te wakaoranga o to matou wenua, a, kia uru ratou ki te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni.
4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o tenei o to matou wakaputanga nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei kawe atu i to matou aroha nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara mo matou. A, no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga pakeha e noho nei i uta, e rere mai ana ki te hokohoko, koia ka mea a matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki a matou i to matou Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to matou Rangatiratanga.
A day to remember - the signing of the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand
By Joan Macdonald and Kevin McBride :: Sunday 6th February 2005
Once again, 28th October has passed without any notable public recognition of the anniversary of the signing of He Wakaputanga o Te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni, the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand. But it still stands as a significant beginning of nationhood here, even though it has been largely neglected in mainstream historical educators a largely unaware public.
The Declaration, recognised as an international agreement, was signed at Waitangi in 1835, by the hereditary chiefs of the northern parts of New Zealand and the Crown Resident, a representative of King William of England. Essentially, it proclaimed the sovereign authority of the independent tribes of New Zealand.
What led up to the signing of the Declaration?
In a lecture delivered at Auckland University (“To Cede or Not to Cede”, 1 August 2002), Dr Manuka Henare referred to letters written by Eruera Pare Hongi and other Maori from 1825. Eruera was a prolific writer who later acted as a scribe for the Declaration. The letters referred concerns of Maori leaders to King William IV, and one in 1831 raises key issues addressed in the Declaration. Some Maori had travelled extensively and were becoming aware of the relationships between countries and that there needed to be some sort of controlling relationship with the settlers whom they described as "Pakeha" Such letters also asked for protection from an armed French vessel and expressed concern about the participation of British seamen in the kidnapping of a Maori chief. (rf “The Penguin History of New Zealand” Michael King)
In 1832, in response to these appeals, and other requests from missionaries, James Busby was appointed as the first British Resident. Among other duties, he was to protect New Zealand's trade with the Australian colonies, and to protect the lives and interests of the British subjects living in New Zealand. In 1834, at a meeting at Waitangi, he helped Rangatira to choose a national flag, so that New Zealand built and owned ships could be properly registered. The ensign chosen became known as the 'Flag of the Independent Tribes of New Zealand'. The flag, designed by Henry Williams, included the Cross of St George but the red parts were enlarged. The four stars represented the Southern Cross, the primary star system of Maori navigation. The flag was later used at the choosing of the first Maori king.
At a later ceremony on 28 October 1835, Busby and 34 chiefs signed the "Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand". One of its many aims was to thwart the likes of French adventurer Charles de Thierry, who was planning to establish an independent state in the Hokianga. The Declaration proclaimed in English and Maori that:
“1. We the hereditary chiefs and heads of the tribes of the Northern parts of New Zealand, being assembled at Waitangi in the Bay of islands, on this 28th day of October 1835, declare the independence of our country which is hereby constituted and declared to be an independent state under the Designation of the United Tribes of New Zealand.
2. All sovereign power and authority within the territories of the united tribes of New Zealand is hereby declared to reside entirely and exclusively in the hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes, who also declare that they will not permit any legislative authority separate from themselves in their collective capacity, nor any function of government to be exercised within the said territories, unless by persons appointed by them and acting under the authority of laws regularly enacted by them in Congress assembled.
3. The hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes agree to meet in Congress at Waitangi in the autumn of each year for the purpose of framing laws for the dispensation of justice, the preservation of peace and good order, and the regulation of trade. They also cordially invite the southern tribes t lay aside their private animosities and to consult the safety and welfare of our common country by joining the Confederation of the United Tribes.
4. They also agree to send a copy of this Declaration to His Majesty the King of England to thank him for his acknowledgement of their flag. In return for the friendship and protection that they have shown and are prepared to show for such of his subjects as have settled in their country or reso4rted to its shores for the purpose of trade, they entreat that he will continue to be the parent of their infant State, to protect it from all attempts upon its independence.”
Subsequently, the declaration was acknowledged by King William and approved by the British Colonial Office.
After the October signing at Waitangi, the collection of further signatures continued up to 1839, including Rangatira of Ngati Kahungunu and Tainui's Potatau Te Wherowhero, who became the first Maori King in 1856. Later, Ngati Tuwharetoa declined to sign the Treaty of Waitangi "because we already have ours", referring to the Declaration.
Although quickly forgotten by Pakeha and downplayed by several historians, even today, the Declaration has retained an importance in Maori consciousness. It had an influence on the 1876 establishment of the Kotahitanga Movement, one among many attempts by Maori since the 1840s to reassert their status in their own land.
The Declaration is an important document in its own right and made good political and economic sense for Maori. It arose out of Maori concerns and could be said to establish their entry to international affairs. The clear reference to “nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tirani” (“the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand”) in the Preamble and Article One of the Treaty of Waitangi shows that the Treaty was intended to build on foundations laid down in the earlier Declaration.
Until the Declaration is more widely known and understood and its significance is acknowledged by all New Zealanders, not only Maori, as an important event in the history of Aotearoa-New Zealand, we will continue to find it difficult to achieve the relationship between Maori and the Crown which Rangatira signing the Treaty of Waitangi intended it to maintain.
[Joan Macdonald, as a member of Tamaki Treaty Workers, is involved in Treaty education. Kevin McBride manages the Bicultural Desk for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland]
