The Treaty of Waitangi was written in Māori and English. The Government has established three main points:
- Article One
Government makes law.
- Article Two
Māori resources and way of life are protected.
- Article Three
The basic rights of all people within Aotearoa New Zealand are protected.
However, the English and Māori text are not an exact translation of each other. Also, it was only the Māori version of the Treaty that was signed by most Māori signatories.
The Treaty of Waitangi Text
The Official English Version
Preamble to the Treaty of Waitangi
Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Ireland regarding with Her Royal favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes in 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 authorised 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 authorise 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 Confederate 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 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 and 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 over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed 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. Hobson
Consul and Lieutenant-Governor
Now, therefore, we the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, being 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 being 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.
The Māori Version
Preamble to the Treaty of Waitangi
Ko Wikitoria, te Kuini o Ingarangi i tana mahara atawhai ki nga Rangatira me nga Hapū, o Nu Tirani, i tana hiahia, hoki kia tohungia ki a ratou rangatiratanga, me to ratou whenua, a kia mau tonu hoki te Rongo ki a ratou me te ata noho hoki kau wakaaro ia he mea tike kia tukua mai tetahi Rangatira hei kai wakarite ki nga tangata Māori o Nu Tirini. Kia wakaaetia e nga Rangatira Māori te Kawanatanga o te Kuini ki nga wahi katoa o te wenua hei me nga motu. Na te mea hoki he tokomaha ke nga tangata o tona iwi kua noho ki tenei wenua, a e mai nei.
Na, ko te Kuini e hiahia ana kia wakaritea te Kawanatanga, kia kaua ai nga kino e puta mai ki te tangata Māori ki te Pākehā e noho enoho ture kore ana.
Na, kau pai te Kuini kia tukua a hau, a Wiremu Hopihona, he Kapitana i te Roiara Nawi, hei Kawana mo nga wahi katoa o Nu Tirini, e tukua aianei amua atu ki te Kuini e mea atu ana ia ki nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga o nga Hapū o Nu Tirini me era Rangatira atu enei ture ka korerotia nei.
Ko Te Tuatahi
Ko nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga, me nga Rangatira katoa hoki, kihai i uru ki taua Wakaminenga, ka tuku rawa atu ki te Kuini o Ingarangi ake tonu atu te Kawanatanga katoa o ratou wenua.
Ko Te Tuarua
Ko te Kuini o Ingarangi ka wakarite ka wakaae ki nga Rangatira, ki nga Hapū, ki nga tangata katoa o Nu Tirini, te tino Rangatiratanga o o ratou wenua o ratou kainga me o ratou taonga katoa. Otiia ko nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga me nga Rangatira katoa atu, ka tuku ki te Kuini te hokonga o era wahi wenua e pai ai te tangata nona te wenua, ki te ritenga o te utu e wakaritea ai e ratou ko te kai hoko e meatia nei e te Kuini hei kai hoko mona.
Ko Te Tuatoru
Hei wakaritenga mai hoki mo te wakaaetanga ki te Kawanatanga o te Kuini. Ka tiakina e te Kuini o Ingarangi nga tangata Māori katoa o Nu Tirani. Ka tukua ki a ratou nga tikanga katoa rite tahi ki ana mea ki nga tangata o Ingarangi.
W. Hobson
Consul and Lieutenant-Governor
Na ko matou, ko nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tirani, ka huihui nei ki Waitangi. Ko matou hoki ko nga Rangatira o Nu Tirani, ka kite nei i te ritenga o eni kupa, ka tangohia, ka wakaaetia katoatia e matou. Koia ka tohungia ai o matou ingoa o matou tohu.
Ka meatia tenei ki Waitangi, i te ono o nga ra o Pepuere, i te tau kotahi mano, e waru rau, e wha tekau, o to tatou Ariki.
Translation
Translation of the Māori Version (the articles only by Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu)
The First
The Chiefs of the Confederation and all the Chiefs who have not joined that Confederation give absolutely to the Queen of England for ever the complete government over their land.
The Second
The Queen of England agrees to protect the Chiefs, the Subtribes and all the people of New Zealand in the unqualified exercise of their chieftainship over their lands, villages and all their treasures. But on the other hand, the Chiefs of the Confederation and all the Chiefs will sell land to the Queen at a price agreed to by the person owning it and by the person buying it (the latter being) appointed by the Queen as her purchase agent.
The Third
For this agreed arrangement therefore, concerning the Government of the Queen, the Queen of England will protect all the ordinary people of New Zealand (ie, the Māori ) and will give them the same rights and duties of citizenship as the people of England.
