Reply to Peter Dey, 5 October 'Ridiculous claims” I agree versions of the Treaty state 'The Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the chiefs and the tribes and to all the people of New Zealand, the possession of their lands, settlements and all their valued possessions”. I also agree that no version states 'We are all one people”.
Then we read prominent 'Maori” stated in recent times 'We are one nation, one people”. In the next breath 'We need to help our people”. I am confused.
NZers are angry at approved claims based on no tangible evidence but hearsay, word of mouth and so called customary rights.
I have just read an interesting essay by J. Rutherford, Professor of History, Auckland University College published 1949, titled 'The Treaty of Waitangi and the Acquisition of British Sovereignty in New Zealand. 1840”.
The final paragraph reads 'The Treaty of Waitangi is not recognisable as a treaty in international law, and is not part of municipal law; therefore the legal position is that New Zealand was acquired by an act of State, and falls in the category of colonies acquired by occupation”.
In 1975 however, the Treaty was made a legal document by act of parliament and that is when all the trouble started.

Roger Bailey, Papamoa.