The Treaty of Waitangi

Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is an important document of New Zealand. It is
an agreement, an exchange of promises, between the British Crown and about

With the arrival of many different nations to New Zealand, the British Crown
needed to secure their interest in being the superpower of New Zealand. This
would enable them to protect their trading interests and challenge the incoming
French from gaining power.
Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson began writing the treaty with
the advice from James Busby. The treaty was translated by
Henry Williams and his son in one day. The treaty was

were not exactly the same. Several copies of the treaty

were drafted in order to send throughout New Zealand to
be signed by chiefs around the country.

of the treaty were treated differently.

th
of February, 1840,
by about 40 chiefs at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. Many other chiefs
signed the treaty when it reached them throughout the country. This process

The British announced supreme power over New Zealand on the 21st of
May, 1840.
There were many misunderstandings over the translations of the treaty between

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi

interests were being protected. This however, was not the case.

were given no say or influence over what was right for them. They remained
largely unheard.

protest against the Crown for their breaches of the treaty. In 1975, the
government created the Treaty of Waitangi Act and the Waitangi Tribunal
to assist with trying to honour the treaty. There have been many claims and
settlements which still continue today.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
Questions
1. Who was the Treaty of Waitangi between?

2. When did the government decide that they needed a treaty?

3.

th
4. of February 1840?

5.

What happened in the 1970s?

7.

8.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
Answers
1. Who was the Treaty of Waitangi between?

2. When did the government decide that they needed a treaty?

3.

th
4. of February 1840?
th

5.

What happened in the 1970s?

7.

8.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of
New Zealand. It is an agreement, an exchange of
promises, between the British Crown and about 500

With the arrival of many different nations to New

Zealand, the British Crown needed to secure their
interest in being the superpower of New Zealand. This
would enable them to protect their trading interests and
challenge the incoming French from gaining power.
Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson began writing the
treaty with the advice from James Busby. The treaty was
translated by Henry Williams and his son in one day.

the translations were not exactly the same. Several copies

of the treaty were drafted in order to send throughout New Zealand to be

signed by chiefs around the country.

of the treaty were treated differently.

th
of February, 1840,
by about 40 chiefs at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. First to sign the

Many other chiefs signed the treaty when it reached them throughout the

The British announced supreme power over New Zealand on the 21st of
May, 1840.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi

There were many misunderstandings over the translations of the treaty between

interests were being protected. This however, was not the case.

were given no say or influence over what was right for them. They remained
largely unheard.

protest against the Crown for their breaches of the treaty. In 1975, at
the age of 80, Dame Whina Cooper began a march with her granddaughter
from the far North, to Parliament in Wellington. She led 5000 other

Finally, the government created the Treaty of Waitangi Act and the Waitangi
Tribunal to assist with trying to honour the treaty. There have been many
claims and settlements which still continue today.

Dame Whina Cooper was a loved

chief who was in favour of essential in setting

the treaty. He became
strongly opposed to it
when he realised the
Crown had not upheld
their promises.
up land schemes and
Welfare League.
Dame Whina is
largely remembered
for her lead of the
march to parliament.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
Questions
1. Who was the Treaty of Waitangi between?

2. When and why did the government decide that they needed a treaty?

3.

4. What does sovereignty mean?

5.

7.

8.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
Questions
9.

10. Use a map and find these important places in New Zealand from this text: Waitangi,

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Answers Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
1. Who was the Treaty of Waitangi between?

2. When and why did the government decide that they needed a treaty?

3.

4. What does sovereignty mean?

5.

The

7.

8.

9.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of
New Zealand. It is an agreement, an exchange of
promises, between the British Crown and about 500

With the arrival of many different nations to New

Zealand, the British Crown needed to secure their
interest in being the superpower of New Zealand. This
would enable them to protect their trading interests and
challenge the incoming French from gaining power.
Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson began writing the
treaty with the advice from James Busby. The treaty was
translated by Henry Williams and his son in one day.

the translations were not exactly the same. Several copies

of the treaty were drafted in order to send throughout New Zealand to be

signed by chiefs around the country.

of the treaty were treated differently.

th
of February, 1840,
by about 40 chiefs at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. First to sign the

Many other chiefs signed the treaty when it reached them throughout the

The British announced supreme power over New Zealand on the 21st of
May, 1840.
There were many misunderstandings over the translations of the treaty between

Page 1 of 3 visit twinkl.co.nz

 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi

interests were being protected. This however, was not the case.

were given no say or influence over what was right for them. They remained
largely unheard.
The treaty consisted of 3 main written parts, explaining their participation,
protection and partnership for people of New Zealand.
The British Crown has complete governance over New Zealand forever.

The British Crown will protect all people of New Zealand and give them the
same rights and privileges of citizenship as the people of Great Britain.

versions. An example of a common misunderstanding is that of the word:

Sovereignty means to have complete control and authority, however, it was

to believe that they would retain ownership and undisturbed possession of their
lands and traditions, with the Queen governing it. However, sovereignty means
absolute power, which meant that the Queen had complete power over all land
in New Zealand.

constantly dishonoured their agreements in the treaty.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi

protest against the Crown for their breaches of the treaty. In 1975, at
the age of 80, Dame Whina Cooper began a march with her granddaughter

the government created the Treaty of Waitangi Act and the Waitangi Tribunal
to assist with trying to honour the treaty. There have been many claims and
settlements which still continue today.

Dame Whina Cooper was a loved

chief who was in favour of essential in setting

the treaty. He became
strongly opposed to it
when he realised the
Crown had not upheld
their promises.
up land schemes and
Welfare League.
Dame Whina is
largely remembered
for her lead of the
march to parliament.

Page 3 of 3 visit twinkl.co.nz

 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
Questions
1. Who was the Treaty of Waitangi between?

2. When and why did the government decide that they needed a treaty?

3.

4.

5. What does sovereignty mean?

7.

8. Research Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson, James Busby or Missionary Henry

Williams and write three facts about them.

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi
Questions

9.

10. Use a map and find these important places in New Zealand from this text: Waitangi,

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 The Treaty of Waitangi
Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi

Answers
1. Who was the Treaty of Waitangi between?

2. When and why did the government decide they needed a treaty?

3.

4.

5. What does sovereignty mean?

7.

8. Research Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson, James Busby or Missionary Henry

Williams and write three facts about them. Various answers similar to: A tribunal is a

9.

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