Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi 1840

In 1840, over 500 Māori leaders put their names to a significant new document: Te Tiriti o Waitangi or the Treaty of Waitangi. Through their signatures, moko or marks, they were making an agreement with the British Crown, represented by Consul and Lieutenant Governor William Hobson. At stake was the sovereignty of the country, the governance of the land.

The meanings of the Treaty of Waitangi have been debated and disputed – ever since. The text in te reo Māori differs in critical ways from the text in English. The outcome, as iwi and hapū around the country quickly learned, was a threat to their rangatiratanga, or sovereignty.

The history of this agreement between two peoples made nearly 200 years ago is a remarkable one, told here in rich and compelling detail. The nine sheets of the Treaty are shown, with a vivid account of their signing. Names, iwi and hapū are given for the treaty signatories, along with information about their lives. Drawing on new research, this is a dynamic story about a treaty, its time and the people who made it.  

Published in conjunction with Archives New Zealand and Bridget Williams Books.