THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Waka Maori, Volume I, Issue 26, 29 March 1879, Page 364

THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

We have been requested to publish the treaty of Waitangi, and, as we believe that but few Natives, comparatively speaking, of the present day, know anything about it, we have determined to do so. We think the circulation of it among the Maori population is likely to do good, and give them increased confidence in her Majesty's Government in this colony—and, in saying this, let us not be misunderstood ; we do not mean Grey and Sheehan's "personal" Government. Our Native friends will see that, instead of being in any way detrimental to their interests, the treaty is really the charter of their greatest temporal privileges. "We give the original translation, which is neither so full nor so close as it might have been made ; however, it contains the. pith of the English version, which we suppose is sufficient : " Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, regarding with Her Royal Favor the Native Chiefs and tribes of New Zealand, and anxious to protect their just Rights and property, and to secure to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order, has deemed it necessary in consequence of the great number of Her Majesty's Subjects who have already settled in New Zealand, and the rapid extension of Emigration both from Europe and Australia which is still in progress, to constitute and appoint a functionary properly authorized to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those islands. Her Majesty, therefore, being' desirous to establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result from the absence of the necessary Laws and Institutions alike to the Native population and to Her subjects, has been graciously pleased to empower and authorize me, William Hobson, a Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Consul, and Lieutenant-Governor of such parts of New Zealand as may be, or hereafter shall be, ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederated and independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following Articles and Conditions. " Article the First. "The Chiefs of the Confederation'of the United Tribes of New Zealand, and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation, cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England, absolutely and without reservation, all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said confederation or Individual Chiefs respectively exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess, over their respective Territories as the sole Sovereigns thereof. " Article the Second Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and to the respective families and individuals thereof, the full, exclusive,and undisturbed possession of their Lands aiid Estates, Forests, Fisheries and .other properties which they may collectively or individually possess, so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession ; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the Individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Pre-emption oyer such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed 1o alienate, at such prices as mav be agrec! | upon between the respective Proprietors and persons

appointed by her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf. {{ # '' Article the Third "In consideration thereof, Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand Her royal protection, and imparts to them all the Rights and Privileges of British subjects. " "W". Hobsoit, " Lieutenant- Governor. . " Now therefore, We, the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, beim* assembled in Congress at Victoria, in Waitangi, and We, the Separate and Independent Chiefs of New Zealand, claiming authority over the Tribes and Territories which, are specified after our respective names, having been made fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty, accept and enter into the same in the full spirit and meaning thereof : in witness of which, we have attached our signatures or marks at the places and the dates respectively specified. (Here follow the signatures of the Native . Chiefs.) Done at Waitangi, this sixth day of Februarv, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eijrht hundred and forty."