Maori activists are running their grievance programme on a false basis. There is only one Treaty of Waitangi. That is the document signed by Governor Hobson on behalf of the Queen of England and about 550 Maori leaders on behalf of Maori throughout New Zealand. It was agreed that Maori would give their sovereignty to the Queen in return for British citizenship.
The only version of the Treaty was written in Maori. No mention of co governance racism/or differentiation on the basis of race, just one equal law for all citizens. It was drafted in English before being translated to Maori. The English draft is known as the Littlewood draft and it is accurate.
The Treaty was a very good deal for Maori. They were stone aged, waring, cannibals with a life expectancy of less than half of what it is today. The minutes of the conference of some 200 Maori leaders held at Kohimarama in 1870 shows what was done on their behalf was very much to their liking.
L Christie, Tauranga.
3 comments
@l.christie
Posted on 21-02-2016 17:06 | By tutae.kuri
Surprising to see no comment yet on your letter.For some reason, no one has yet accepted the Littlewood draft as the real thing. I understand that claudia orange ,when first confronted with this document, commented that it could open a can of worms, then proceeded to rubbish it. Seems that govt didn't want to know either ,however, the document languishes, somewhat unloved, in the national Library in Wellington. The fact that it is being kept there shows importance even though both Maori and Govt ignore it. NZ Govt has been a poor steward of the Treaty and allowed Maori to get away with many more claims than intended by the Treaty. Interestingly, that while we have heard loudly from Maori and with craven responses from Govt,we have never heard anything at all from the British who were the original signatory, as to what their expectations of the Treaty were?
THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL
Posted on 22-02-2016 15:23 | By crazyhorse
As the initiator of the Waitangi Tribunal Sir Geoffrey Palmer has created a monster and done more damage to the social and economic structure of this country than can ever be imagined. I imagine as a lawyer he has probably benefited quite well from the process. Over the last 50 years there has been Billions of Dollars provided specifically for Maori education, health, housing etc - this is apart from Treaty settlements and we have achieved nothing except more demands.
Honest Hughy's treaty!
Posted on 22-02-2016 17:35 | By crazyhorse
Sir Hugh Kawharu, who was both a tribunal member and a claimant representing Ngati Whatua o Orakei, re-translated the treaty from the original Maori back to English and in so doing redefined two words
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