Week 10, page 2/4

of parchment and 9 papers and we can see that the treaty was signed by both sides: the English side and the Maori side. There are 2 different versions: The English version and a translation in Maori.

→  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Waitangi_claims_and_settlements

Focus on the §: History of the treaty

The Treaty of Waitangi was written in English and translated into the Māori language (Te Reo). As some words in the English treaty did not translate directly into the written Māori of the time, this text is not an exact translation of the English text, such as in relation to the meaning of having and ceding sovereignty.^[4][5] In the English version, Māori ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain; Māori gave the Crown the exclusive right to purchase lands they wished to sell, and, in return, Māori were guaranteed full ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions and were given the rights of British subjects. However, in the Māori language version of the Treaty, the word 'sovereignty' was translated as kawanatanga ('governance'). And in contradiction to the English language version, Māori retained authority and sovereignty, and did not give this to the Queen.^[3] In addition, the English version guaranteed 'undisturbed possession' of all 'properties', but the Māori version guaranteed tino rangatiratanga ('full authority') over taonga ('treasures').^[1]

Around 530 to 540 Māori, at least 13 of them women, signed the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi, known as Te Tiriti o Waitangi.^[6][7] Only 39 signed the English version.^[8]

The different understandings of the content of the treaty led to disagreements between Pākeha and Māori, beginning almost immediately after the signing of the treaty, and contributed to the New Zealand Wars, which culminated in the confiscation of a large part of the Waikato and Taranaki.^[9]

→ https://teara.govt.nz/en/te-tiriti-o-waitangi-the-treaty-of-waitangi

The reasons why chiefs signed te tiriti included wanting controls on sales of Māori land to Europeans, and on European settlers. They also wanted to trade with Europeans, and believed the new relationship with Britain would stop fighting between tribes.

Those who did not sign te tiriti were concerned they would lose their independence and power, and wanted to settle their own disputes. Some chiefs never had the opportunity to sign it, as it was not taken to all regions.