The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi)
Abstract:
This is a report about the Treaty of Waitangi and its significance to New Zealand, revolving around causes and consequences from the event. The causes of the treaty (1800-1840) include: religious influence, lawlessness of Europeans, and British Imperialism. The short-term consequences of the event are land disputes, healthcare for Maori, and an economic shift. The long-term consequence of the event is the creation of the Waitangi Tribunal. The article will then cover the significance of the Treaty to Maori, and will finish with a conclusion.
Overview:
(CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED)
(A NARRATIVE DESCRIBING THE EVENTS OF WAITANGI, WITH DATES, NAMES, PLACES)
Causes:
Religious influence
A cause of the Treaty of Waitangi was the religious influence from Missionaries. The Church Missionary Society began in London in 1799. In December 1814, the first missionaries landed in the Bay of Islands, led by Samuel Marsden. He was accompanied by William Hall, John King, and Thomas Kendall. The first mission was established at Rangihoua under the protection of the local chief Ruatara. In 1823, Henry Williams arrived to lead the CMS mission, and would go on to play a crucial role in the treaty signing. Missionaries like himself became trusted peacemakers during the musket wars between tribes. This prompted Williams to lead opposition to large scale colonization plans put forward by the New Zealand company, a company formed to carry out systematic colonisation based on English society in the southern hemisphere. Missionaries promoted British government intervention in the form of a treaty to protect Maori land ownership. QUOTE FROM THE MISSIONARIES
Lawlessness of Europeans
Another cause of the Treaty of Waitangi was the lawlessness of Europeans. Before the treaty, New Zealand looked very different. There were numerous independent tribes scattered around the country, with a small number of European settlements and mission stations. Due to culture clash between Europeans and Maori, the European settlers established the town of Russell, the first seaport and independent settlement in New Zealand. The town was nicknamed, ‘Hellhole of the Pacific’ due to the lawlessness, racial tensions, and the brothels and pubs to satisfy ship crewmen. As time passed, muskets became a popular trading item, and violence was common between Maori and Europeans. By the early 1830s, settler trade was so extreme that there could be 1000 seamen in port, but no law to control them or Maori. Settlers took advantage of freedom as British law did not extend to New Zealand, so Europeans would purchase Maori land for unfair low pricing.
As settlement grew, the British government felt responsible for the ongoing crimes of their subjects, and by the creation of a treaty felt it was a solution to this problem as they could create a government and law system. EXAMPLES OF LAWLESSNESS
British Imperialism
By the late 1830s, the British Empire had extended to notable countries such as: India, Canada, Australia, the South American Cape, and Jamaica to name a few. There was clearly a desire to add another country to the list. Britain and France had a historical rivalry, and France had their eyes set on New Zealand. This interest speeded up Britain’s decision to annex New Zealand. In 1838, Jean François Langlois, commander of the whaling ship Cachalot, had plans for a French colony in Akaroa. In March 1840, the Comte de Paris set off for Akaroa carrying 59 emigrants. The British government gave in to colonise the country and sent out William Hobson in 1839. He signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, and claimed sovereignty over the South Island on 21 May. CHIEFS WRITE TO KING WILLIAM
Consequences:
Land disputes
(Northern Wars)
Social and Economic Effects
Before European contact, whānau were work groups that gathered food and cultivated harvest for themselves. Hapū were a collection of closely related whānau who lived and worked together for defence and food resources. They were the main political and economic unit, and recognising the authority of the chief was one of the crucial aspects of early Maori society. Inland communities would trade preserved birds, rats, and other forest products, and the coastal communities would in turn trade fish. Obsidian and Pounamu were highly prized items and was good for trade. The economy shifted when Europeans arrived. Captain James Cook and others arrived, trading firearms, cloth, and iron, for local New Zealand foods. Europeans also introduced vegetation like potatoes and turnips, which easily incorporated into the traditional Hapū system of trade. As coastal tribes built good trading relationships with Europeans, they would in turn trade their European vegetation to the inland tribes. The Treaty of Waitangi signing in 1840 caused a shift in both the social and economic way of life for Maori. Now, there were approximately 2000 Europeans and 70,000-90,000 Maori. Settlers arrived in large groups, and by 1858, the European population equalled the Maori population at 59,000. While this went on, Maori continued to adapt and take advantage of the new trading benefits. The Treaty meant a shift from barter trading to Maori participating in a cash economy. The different Hapū relied on wheat growing, flour milling, and coastal shipping. Governor Gray developed several policies in the early 1850’s, including making loans to Maori for the purchase of mills, ploughs, and small vessels, with the hope of ‘elevating Maori to civilisation’. In the 1860’s New Zealand’s main export was gold and wool, but by the mid-1870’s was reduced to wool only. Historian James Belich stated that nineteenth century New Zealand was all about growth and interaction between two different people groups.
Healthcare for Maori
Another consequence of the Treaty of Waitangi was an increase in Maori health initiatives. When settlers began arriving in their boatloads after the Treaty, Maori had no immunity against the dangerous diseases introduced from Europe. they brought European disease with them, including venereal infections, measles, influenza, typhoid fever, dysentery tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and syphilis. Missionaries initially provided some healthcare, but after the Treaty several government hospitals were set up. As the settler population grew, Maori were either unable to afford treatment, or didn’t trust the Pakeha dominated system. From the mid 1840’s onwards, the government funded native medical officers to provide care for Maori who couldn’t afford treatment. Traditional Maori health practices availed, although it was often ineffective against new European disease.
By the early 1900s, Maori population numbers had increased significantly, due to an increase in resistance to introduced infections, and a health campaign launched by the Government with Maori. Dr Māui Pōmare was appointed native health officer in 1900, with his role to travel the country visiting Maori settlements and give advice and instruction to local leaders to improve sanitary and health conditions. Maori councils were elected in almost every Maori district, with health improvement being one of their main goals. They did their best work in their first decade, but after this struggled to continue for financial reasons.