Treaty Of Waitangi Dbq

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There were numerous events that led to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in the 1830’s one such event known as the Harriet Affair led them to fight between Maori and Pakeha, through, cannibalism, events, and inequality. One such event became the well known Harriet Affair this happened in April 1834. During this event, the Guard family consisting of Elizabeth, John, her two children and shiploads of unnamed crew members boarded a ship, where they were tragically shipwrecked on the Taranaki coast. They made, as instinctive survivors tents created out of the ship sails, in some myths it rumored 12 unfortunate crew members were chopped and killed by the Maori during an attack and possibly eaten as an act of cannibalism. Elizabeth

and her family along with other crew were kept as ransom in exchange for British resources for four dreadful months. Elizabeth escaped death by the goodness of the chief Oaoiti’s wife, she was unexpectedly treated quite fairly by widespread stories and even considered the wife of Oaoiti, rumors have it, the twins she bore, had a noticeable dark complexion and were even considered Oaoiti children. The immigration problems got to the Crown, which got them to get involved, gain political power, control and profit from the incident. Luckily for Elizabeth, she went from prisoner to passenger from being rescued along with other survivors by 60 British troops. The events of the Harriet caused the Crown to involve itself in New Zealand, through sending more settlers, troops, ships etc. Britain knew the pros and cons of colonizing countries and often the truckloads of cons that tag along. If the Harriet affair and the other unnamed events that have not bubbled to the surface, they would probably leave New Zealand alone and continued with their under developing country known as Britain only to let the French takeover. Since the affair had occurred, Britain took action and colonized New Zealand and filled it with full of pros and plenty of cons such as extinct birds, stoats, invasives species especially rabbits, rats, cats etc and numerous unjust land takeovers. If it weren’t for Treaty of Waitangi and the intervention of the British many drastic changes would be shown, including wildlife, environment, people and the extensive knowledge of Maori.

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Before 1840, there were many events that occurred around the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi such as extensive conversations, quarrels, disagreements, anxious Europeans and unsuspecting, naive Maori.

It all began as William Hobson voyaged to New Zealand to form an agreement on behalf of her Majesty Queen Victoria, the queen and sovereign present at that time period. To begin the treaty James Freeman and James Busby drafted our beloved treaty that should have been done by the then governor William Hobson but wasn’t due to him falling ill. Missionary Henry Williams as a Maori to English translator, translated the treaty into native language Maori for the New Zealand natives to understand. On the 5th of February 1840, William Hobson the governor read in English the treaty to the Maori chiefs present at the signing, then once more in Maori. Many chiefs took different sides as soon as it came to the complex matter of the treaty, which brought forth a conversation spanning 5 painstaking hours. Even though it was delayed for two more days, the next day on the 6th of February the chiefs thought otherwise and decided to start their departure due to lack of food and the ever-popular tobacco. At midday, as there was nothing on the agenda, governor Hobson decided that no further discussion is required and that the signatures (marks) should be done immediately. Meanwhile, Missionary William Colenso told governor Hobson, that the Maori might not know what they were signing which can

swirl up trouble. On that very day, the 6th of February, all the 45 chiefs who signed the treaty were given two red scarlet blankets and Tobacco as parting gifts. Since the chiefs were signing, “on behalf of their whole tribe”, this would have been a complicated life-changing decision to make, which would have needed a lot of persuading by the British. All of these events attributed immensely to the Maori because as chief’s and representatives making a decision that would either be negative or positive for the well-being of their country was indeed unbelievably hard. The Europeans needed this treaty to be signed in order to make what is strongly suggested positive changes to New Zealand, such as buildings, monuments, trading rights, land, and authority. If it weren’t for the events surrounding the Treaty of Waitangi as shown, then New Zealand would have been run differently, maybe even by a small chance forcibly taken by the Europeans because they were indeed very capable, also implying that there would have been no peaceful agreements that would lead to further arguments and maybe even a mini-war. If these events have occurred in a different era of time there most definitely would have been constant bickering, political problems, and anxiety.

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Before the 1840s, there were countless events which led to the British Crown and some Maori chiefs wanting a treaty, such as the British being disrespectful towards the Maori, large numbers of British landing and wanting trading and land ownership.

Chiefs including Te Rauparaha thought that the land he conquered over the previous years would still be his. Similarly, Tamati Waka Nene thought the treaty would bring peace over land quarrels and putting the British in Maori control. Hone Heke, a chief supporting the British, thought if they didn’t have the foreigners protecting their land, estates and precious assets, all of it would be captured by the French. Greatly known Maori chief Hone Heke also decided for himself that Maori were powerless without the governor, who was “like a father to son”. The British Crown worried immensely of the large masses of inappropriately behaving British landing in New Zealand waters, which might end up stirring up quarreling and problems beyond their imagination. The Crown also “wanted a treaty” to ensure the Maori chiefs, (representatives) that no other powerful nation such as the French would be able to “conquer New Zealand”. It is also because of the enormous numbers of British behaving badly through various ways. While the British wanted trading rights from the Maori, on the other hand, the Crown just wanted rights to govern New Zealand their way, while keeping the British in control and having the Maori ensured they were being protected

by and that they were on their side. Numerous Europeans arrived here for trading and some Australian ex-convicts who just came for permanent resettlement. As time flies by, more arrive at their destination eventually out populating the Maori which got them extremely worried and influenced them to react to the situation. If it weren’t for the Maori and the British finding common ground and demanding a piece of document to settle the matters that have already spiraled out of control then there would no treaty, no Maori free will, respect from the British and trading rights for whales, seals, flax etc. Another reason why this was important as it presented the inner solution to controlling the trading route rights, land authority, British misbehavior, and population. As Maori and British have their point of view on the segment known as the Treaty of Waitangi, there became an agreement which shined bright as soon as each Maori chief placed their irremovable mark, resolving problems between Pakeha and Maori like misbehavior, population control, trade and other problems.

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In 1840, there were plenty of reasons and explanations why some Maori chiefs didn’t want to place their mark on the treaty, such as fear of environmental changes, being ruled by a “woman”, rumors about the murdering of indigenous Australian native through homicide, unjust rights, and the land ownership. Some Maori chiefs were not permitted the same right as other chiefs to place their mark because they lived inland, far away from the seashore, ships and their reach, which evidently offended them. Chiefs, including Te Wherowhero (first Maori king), Mananui, Taraia and Hori Kingi did not want to partake in the signing of our beloved treaty because of their own valid points of view. Hori Kingi was “presented with the treaty not once, but twice”, both times he refused for the (undetermined) reason of having contact with missionaries. Te Wherowhero, though unsupportive, treated the British government quite well through business deals, all to ensure Maori natives with the utmost guarantee that they are their own people. Mananui, though in direct contact with missionaries didn’t have a good mindset to them, because of his lifelong work of conquering the nations and the fact the Europeans were not keeping their end of the deal. Taraia, under every circumstance, considers the British Crown's right to have authority in New Zealand inapplicable, he figured if there was absolutely no mark (signature) there cannot be any treaty with him and the Pakeha, also the fact that all the land he had conquered belonged exclusively to him. Two unnamed highly positioned Chiefs disapproved of the British effort to make corrections to their errors through a parchment. As gifts were distributed many didn’t receive equal quantities or even some gifts from the Crown, which created great disruptions and including one chief requesting for his name withdrawn from the treaty. If it weren’t for Maori fighting back against Europeans, it would have falsely shown weakness or unintelligence amongst the Maori, which could have led the British to capture every opportunity or waking moment to improve their part of the deal to their benefit. Chieftains other than Te Wherowhero, Mananui, Taraia and Hori Kingi would have decided to take the matters into their own hands, their feats probably just weren’t important enough to be woven anywhere into the fabrics of history. This “was very important” due to brave Maori chieftains standing on their feet with their own beliefs and opinions on the matter and protecting their mana. Maori people were worried about the chances of cruel homicide and decided to change their fate and rebel against it and be free of every possible chance of ever encountering it. Many or all chiefs considered the treaty a worthless piece of parchment that will deprive them of their free will, whereas others consider the treaty worth investing their time.