W.Lawrence (November 30) is spreading seriously untrue information. He claims that the English version of the Treaty of Waitangi in the National Archives has a fake signature by Governor Hobson added in the 1990's.
However if you contact National Archives they tell you that there is absolutely no truth to this claim. They tell you also that the English version of the Treaty has always had Governor Hobson's signature on it.
As well Governor Hobson on two occasions sent an official copy of this version to his superior, Governor Gipps, in New South Wales. (THE TREATY OF WAITANGI by Claudia Orange page 260).
We have had official English and Maori versions of the Treaty of Waitangi since 1840, and the decision to have two versions was made by Governor Hobson in 1840. We know that the English version is not an exact translation of the Maori version, but this does not make the English version false. The two versions are complementary.
The English Treaty version makes it clear that the Treaty agreement was between the Government and Maori only, not other New Zealand citizens. It seems that this is one reason people claim the English Treaty version to be false. Unfortunately for them there is absolutely no valid evidence to support their claim.
Peter Dey
Welcome Bay
1 comment
ENGLISH VERSION?
Posted on 11-12-2012 18:21 | By YOGI
So Mr Dey, which english version are you talking about, the Littlewood version translates perfectly english/Maori/English and there is not meantion of trees/birds (most were eaten already) water, forests, telephone lines or Port of tauranga shares ... or whatever else is on the menu) but the freeman one does not, even Hobson recorded that the freeman one is not "it". If you can understand that then you will realise that the 1975 Waitangi Treaty Act english version is the wrong one and is not a true translation of the signed treaty. Most of the claims and all the problems all roll on from that.
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