It’s time the Te Pāti Māori Party and its followers thanked Queen Victoria and Her People for saving their tangata Maori Ancestors from total extinction in 1840.

Colonization did not destroy the tangata Māori’s way of life, it was Hongi Hika, Ngāpuhi who destroyed it when he returned from England in 1820 with over 500 muskets and went on the rampage south with his followers, taking as slaves or killing thousands of their unarmed countrymen, women, and children for the fun of it and the feasts that followed. By 1830, the Southern tribes had also gained muskets and were not only attacking Ngāpuhi for utu/revenge, but also fighting became completely out of control between the tribes of New Zealand and by 1840, half the tangata Maori population had been destroyed.

If the tangata Maori race were to survive, Britain had to take a far greater interest in New Zealand and its people. In 1840, Queen Victoria offered the tangata Maori chiefs a treaty asking them; if they gave up their governments to Britain, they would become British Subjects with the same rights and protection as the people of England under English Law. Over 500 chiefs signed the Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840 and the tangata Maori became British Subjects under one law and one flag. See: “Maori Wars of the 19^th Century”, by S Percy Smith, “A Savage Country” and “This Horrid Practice” by Dr Paul Moon and the “Musket Wars” by R. O Crosby to name a few.

History That is Not Being Told to the People of New Zealand.

The Treaty of Waitangi was not our Founding Document; it only played a minor role in New Zealand becoming a British Colony.

Maori Were Not Indigenous to New Zealand. They arrived in New Zealand by sea in 1350, the same as the early Europeans some 400 years later. “The traditions are quite clear on one point, whenever crew disembarked there were already tangata whenua (prior inhabitants) living in New Zealand. From this time on the traditions abound with accounts of tribal wars over land and its resources”. Dr Ranginui Walker, past Head of Maori Studies at the Auckland University, published in the “1986 New Zealand Yearbook”, page 18. The Government does not have a definition or forensic evidence that Maori were the Indigenous people or tangata whenua of New Zealand. The true tangata whenua were driven from their lands by the tangata Maori and disappeared, only their many archaeology sites remaining today.

Part-Maori today are not the people who signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Through intermarriage of their ancestors’ own free will with other races, Maori today are not the distinct race of people who signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. “Maori today are New Zealand Citizens as one sees in legislation”. John Clarke, past Race Relations Conciliator of Maori descent. To claim to be Maori under the law, a person should have 51% Maori ancestry.

Declaration of Independence. British Resident, James Busby wrote an unauthorised Declaration of Independence in 1835, but he could only entice 42 out of over 600 Maori chiefs to sign it before it was abandoned without one meeting taking place. Many of the chiefs who had signed the Declaration were back fighting each other before the ink had even dried. Chief Justice Sir James Prendergast ruled in 1877, “No political body existed capable of claiming sovereignty. The Declaration of Independence was a complete failure.

New Zealand was placed under the Dependency of New South Wales. Due to the continuing, “Musket Wars, Queen Victoria placed New Zealand under the Dependency of New South Wales in 1839 by “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. New Zealand remained under the Dependency of New South Wales until 3 May 1841.

The Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty of Waitangi only played a minor role in New Zealand becoming a British Colony. It gave Britain Sovereignty over New Zealand and made Maori British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England. No more, no less. Queen Victoria did not have the authority to give Maori any special rights in the Treaty of Waitangi not enjoyed by all the people of England and none were given. As Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast ruled during the trial between Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington in 1877, “So far indeed as that instrument (The Treaty of Waitangi) purported to cede sovereignty it must be regarded as a ‘simple nullity’. No political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”. How could Maori have had sovereignty over New Zealand or a or a Partnership with the Crown when they were constantly at war with each other and still practised slavery, cannibalism and genocide? Over half the Maori population had been slaughtered between 1820 and 1840. Without a Head of State, Lt. Governor Hobson had to sign the Treaty of Waitangi with over 500 individual chiefs. The Treaty of Waitangi stopped the inter-tribal fighting and gave Maori protection under British law.

Only One Principle in the Treaty of Waitangi. There is only one Principle in the Treaty of Waitangi and that was the Principle Lt. Governor Hobson repeated to each chief after they had signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi on 6 February in 1840. “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”. There is no reason to write new Principles when we have Lt Governor Hobson’s one Principle agreed to by the 49 chiefs at Waitangi on 6 February 1840.

The Treaty of Waitangi once signed, had achieved its purpose by 1840 and was filed away. Britain had claimed sovereignty over all the islands of New Zealand. This was published in the London Gazette on 2 October 1840. Maori had become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England. No more, no less. The Treaty of Waitangi was not a Partnership!

Queen Victoria’s 1840 Royal Charter/Letters Patent. On 16 November 1840, Queen Victoria issued a Royal Charter Letters Patent under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”, that ratified the Treaty of Waitangi, separated New Zealand from New South Wales dependency and made New Zealand into a British Colony on 3 May 1841 with a Governor and Constitution that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice system under one flag and one law. All the people of New Zealand became British Subjects under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed.

There were Six Documents that Made New Zealand into British Colony, but only one comes anywhere near to New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution and that was, Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840. It made New Zealand into a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed with one Principle, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people” – New Zealanders.

See: www.onenzfoundation.co.nz/the-six-documents-that-made-new-zealand-into-a-british-colony/ 

Prepared by the One New Zealand Foundation from documents held in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives plus the British Parliamentary Papers. (C).

Website: www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. Email; ONZF@bigpond.com.au/.  6/2/2025.

This image is part of a video by Juian Batchelor, Stop Co-Governance dated the 17 February 2025 and states, “What about Article one? This is what it says”; “The chiefs of the confederation of the united tribes, and other chiefs who have not joined the confederation, cede to the Queen of England forever the entire sovreignty/sovereignty of their country”.

But this is NOT what the chiefs signed on 6 February 1840 or the 39 chiefs who signed the English version. This was what Lt. Governor Hobson’s final draft said, but sovereignty was amended to government/kawanatanga by Rev Henry Williams when he translated the final draft into the Tiriti o Waitangi that was signed on 6 February 1840 by 49 chiefs, and then by another 500 chiefs in 1840. Williams had also used kawanatanga for government in the 1835 Declaration of Independence. Every translation of the Tiriti o Waitangi translates kawanatanga as government. James Busby spelt sovereignty wrong in all his early drafts as well as the Final Draft.

Article One of the Tiriti o Waitangi that was signed on 6 February 1840 stated, “The chiefs of the Assembly, and the Chiefs also who have not joined the Assembly, give up entirely to the Queen of England for ever all the kawanatanga/government of their lands”. Official translation by Mr T E Young of the Native Department for the Legislative Counsel in 1969.

Rev Henry Williams had been in New Zealand since 1823 and knew Maori did not have sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840. He knew since the 1800’s, the Maori tribes had been continually at war with each other, but no more so than when Hongi Hika returned from England in 1820 with over 500 muskets. He and his Ngāpuhi followers then went on the rampage south, killing, or taking as slaves thousands of his unarmed countrymen, women and children for the fun of it and the feasts that followed.

This was the start of the Musket Wars that continued until the Tiriti o Waitangi was signed in 1840. See: “Maori Wars of the 19^th Century”, by S Percy Smith, “A Savage Country” and “This Horrid Practice” by Dr Paul Moon and the “Musket Wars” by R. O Crosby to name a few.

British Resident, James Busby had tried to get Maori to claim sovereignty over New Zealand with his unauthorised Declaration of Independence in 1835, but as he could only entice 34 chiefs to sign it and no meeting ever taking place, it was abandoned. The Declaration did not give Maori sovereignty over New Zealand as shown by Lord Normanby contradictory instructions to Captain Hobson.

There is absolutely no evidence that Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Maori could only give up their governments to the Queen and in return, became British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England, no more, no less.

This was endorsed by Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast when he ruled at the trial between Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington in 1877, “So far indeed as that instrument (The Treaty of Waitangi) purported to cede the sovereignty it must be regarded as a ‘simple nullity’. No political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”. This ruling has never been over-ruled as it is based on fact, “No political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”.

How could Maori have sovereignty over New Zealand when they were continually at war with each other and still practicing slavery, cannibalism and genocide?

Prepared by the One New Zealand Foundation Inc.  Email: ONZF@bigpond.com.au.

11 January 2025.

Judge Anthony Willy,

Dear Sir,

Re: The Treaty of Waitangi was not our true Founding Document or first Constitution.

Why do you completely ignore the Royal Charter Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840, issued by Queen Victoria under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”,  that separated New Zealand from New South Wales and made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution that set up our political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed?

Without the Royal Charter/Letters Parent, New Zealand would have remained under the dependency of New South Wales.  

The Treaty of Waitangi only asked the tangata maori to give up their individual governments/tribal control to Queen Victoria, and in return, they would become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England, no more, no less. Under English law, based on the Magna Carta, Queen Victoria could not give the tangata maori any special rights or laws that were not enjoyed by all the people of England, and none were given.  Article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi referred to “all the people of New Zealand”.

Since the ONZF brought Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter Letters Patent to the Government’s attention in 2015, Government has done everything in its power to hide the 1839 and 1840 Royal Charters from the public by  dismantling the Constitution Room at Archive New Zealand in 2017 where the Royal Charters, issued by Queen Victoria under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”, had been on public display for over 25 years. Government then built the $7.2 million He Tohu Exhibition at the Wellington National Library, but omitted to display Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated  30 July 1839, that placed New Zealand under the dependency of New South Wales and the Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840 that separated New Zealand from New South Wales and made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed.  See below, OIA letter to the ONZF from Merilyn Little, Chief Archivist.

In fact, there were Six Documents that made New Zealand into a British Colony, but except for the Treaty of Waitangi, all are completely ignored by those who continue to write about New Zealand’s history, See: The Six Documents that made New Zealand into a British Colony. | One New Zealand Foundation Inc.

There is no other document in our history that comes anywhere near to New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution, than Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840, but the Government hides this document from the public. WHY?

Sir, why are these Six Documents, that are all held in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives, plus the British Parliamentary Papers, all ignored, except for the Treaty of Waitangi by our governments, judges, academics and historians. Surely, the people of New Zealand have a right to know their true documented history and how New Zealand became a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed.

The Treaty of Waitangi was not our true Founding Document or first Constitution, it was Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840.

Government Hides our True Founding Document and First Constitution.

What a load of rubbish by the Chief Archivist, Merilyn Little.

What a load of rubbish when it was stated, the refurbishment of the Nation Library, Wellington costing $7.2 million could only hold three documents with the Chief Activist, Merilyn Little stating these three documents, “Represent moments of pivotal historical significance in Aotearoa New Zealand’s development as a country”. This was a complete lie by the Chief Archivist at Archives New Zealand to support our corrupt Government to hide New Zealand true Founding Document and first Constitution from the people of New Zealand.

These three documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Waitangi and the Women’s Suffrage Petition did not, “Represent moments of pivotal historical significance in Aotearoa New Zealand’s development as a country”, especially as New Zealand was under the dependency of New South Wales when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

The only significant document that was pivotal to New Zealand’s development was, Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840 that was issued under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. It separated New Zealand from New South Wales dependency and made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed. New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution.

There is no other document in our history that comes anywhere near to a Founding Document and first Constitution than, Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840.

This shows to what lengths our corrupt Government will go ($7.2 million of taxpayer’s money) to hide New Zealand’s true history from the people of New Zealand, supported by Archives New Zealand.  How corrupt was that?

Researched by: The One New Zealand Foundation Inc. from documents held in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives, plus the British Parliamentary Papers. 30/5/24.

New Zealand’s “True Rulebook Written in the 19th Century”

Was “Queen Victoria’s 1840 Royal Charter/Letter Patent”.

John Robinson has just written, (15 December 2024) “Modern New Zealand doesn’t need a rulebook written in the 19th century”.  Of course, John is referring to the Treaty of Waitangi, but he overlooked the fact, the Treaty was not a “Rulebook”, it was an agreement between Queen Victoria and the tangata maori asking them to give up their “tribal control” and in return, they would become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England, no more, no less, and no partnership.

New Zealand’s true “Rulebook” came soon after 540 tangata maori chiefs had agreed to and signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.  New Zealand’s true “Rulebook” was Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840 as it set up our political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed, but this is completely overlooked by our modern-day historians.

Unfortunately, these people have never researched the Charter of New Zealand and continue to publish this false history, and the majority of the people New Zealand, have fallen for it.

Below is a copy of Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840 that was issued under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. This was the true “Rulebook written in the 19^th Century”, not the Treaty of Waitangi,

Charter of 1840. Constitution of the Colony of New Zealand.

The 1840 Constitutional Charter of New Zealand reads:

FIRST SITTING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND.

(From the New Zealand Government Gazette)

His Excellency the Governor, according to notice, opened the first session of the legislative council of New Zealand on the 24th May 1841. Hon. W. Shortland, Colonial Secretary, Hon. Francis Fisher, Attorney General, Hon. George Cooper, Colonial Treasurer, E. S. Halswell, Esq., one of the three senior justices, being present, received the oaths and took their seats in the Legislative Council accordingly. James Coates, Esq., was appointed Clerk of the Council, and took the oaths of office. His Excellency then delivered the following speech :— Gentlemen—I have availed myself of this early period to assemble the members of the legislative council for the purpose of bringing under consideration certain measures which the altered circumstances of the Colony seem to me urgently to require. At this our first meeting I deem it proper to draw your attention, not only to the Royal Charter, but to the highly, important instructions under the Royal Signet and Sign Manual which accompany it. The Charter, as you are already aware, erects the islands of New Zealand and certain dependencies into a separate Colony, under the Superintendence of a Governor and Commander-in-Chief. It constitutes a Legislative Council, who are empowered to enact laws and ordinances for the local government of the Colony; it authorises the establishment of Courts of Justice, and the issue of Commissions of the Peace; and, in fact, brings into complete operation British laws throughout the whole Colony of New Zealand. The instructions under the Royal Signet and Sign Manual more particularly define the functions of the Governor and Council, and in a clear and conspicuous manner point out the duties of each. In order that you, gentlemen, may have an opportunity of acquainting yourselves with those particular duties, I have directed the instructions to be laid on the table, and kept open for your perusal in the Council Chamber. I regret that I cannot at the present meeting lay before you the Estimates of the ensuing year, which, although in a forward state of preparation, are in-complete, owing to the non-arrival of directions from the Lords of the Treasury, of which I am advised, and which may be daily expected. I shall lay before you an ordinance for the present re-adoption of all such acts of New South Wales as were in force previous to our separation, and are now applicable to this colony. It is not my intention, however, eventually to propose for your adoption the laws of New South Wales, but it will be my endeavour, during the recess, aided by the advice and assistance of the Law Officers of the Crown, to prepare for your consideration such laws as will best provide for the administration of justice, and the contingencies of social life, which may be expected to arise in New Zealand ; therefore the measures now proposed to you must be deemed temporary and contingent, as re-sulting from the present peculiar condition of the Colony. By Command of Her Majesty I will bring under your consideration the repeal of the Land Commission Act, and submit for your adoption an ordinance for the same general purposes, but granting to the Governor of New Zealand the same powers as those heretofore enjoyed by the Governor of New South Wales. I will likewise lay before you bills for the regulation and collection of the revenue of Her Majesty’s Customs, for establishing courts of quarter sessions and requests, and for the prohibition of distillation. These, gentlemen, are the only subjects for the present on which I shall require you to deliberate. We have, gentlemen, a solemn and important duty to perform ; by our means conflicting interests are to be reconciled ; harmony and tranquility established, and measures are to be adopted for improving the condition and elevating the character of the aboriginal inhabitants. In this salutary work I confidently look for your cordial assistance and co-operation, and I trust under Divine Providence we shall be enabled to accomplished these important objects, and to give effect to Her Majesty’s Gracious and benign views for the welfare, prosperity, and civilization of this Colony. Alter laying on the table the Indemnity Bill, the Governor adjourned the Council until Thursday, the 27th May, 1841.

New Zealand. Anno quarto Victoriæ Reginæ. No. 1. An Ordinance to declare that the laws of New South Wales, so far as they can be made applicable, shall extend to, and be in force in, Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand from and subsequent to the   date of Her Majesty’s Royal Charter and Letters Patent, erecting into a separate Colony the Islands of New Zealand, and to indemnify the Lieutenant Governor and other officers thereof for certain Acts done and performed between the date of the said Royal Charter and Letters Patent and the day of passing this ordinance. Whereas by an Act of the Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales, made and passed in the third year of the reign of Her present Majesty, entitled ” An Act to declare that the Laws of New South Wales extend to Her Majesty’s Dominions in the Islands of New Zealand, and to apply the same, as far as applicable, in the administration of justice therein, and to indemnify certain Officers for Acts already done.” After reciting that Her Majesty had been pleased to annex Her Majesty’s Dominions of New Zealand to the Government of New South Wales, it is enacted that all Laws and Acts or Ordinances of the Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales, which then were, or thereafter might be, in force within the said Colony should extend to and be applied in the administration of justice within Her Majesty’s Dominions in the said Islands of New Zealand, so far as they could be applied therein. And whereas, under and by virtue of an Act of Parliament made and passed in the fourth year of Her said Majesty’s Reign, entitled, ” An Act to continue until the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and to the end of the then next ensuing Session of Parliament, the Provisions of any Act to provide for the Administration of Justice in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, and for the more effectual Government thereof, and for other purposes relative thereto,” Her Majesty did, by Her Royal Charter and Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the sixteenth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and forty, erect into a separate Colony the Islands of New Zealand, theretofore comprised within or dependencies of the Colony of New South Wales, with all other islands lying between certain latitude and longitude therein mentioned. And did further provide that from thenceforth the said islands should be known and designated as the “Colony of New Zealand.” And whereas, by Her said Royal Charter and Letters Patent, Her Majesty did constitute a Legislative Council for the said Colony of New Zealand, with full power and authority to make and ordain all such Laws and Ordinances as might be required for the peace, order, and good Government of the said Colony. And whereas it is expedient, until all such Laws   and Ordinances can be well considered and ordained, that all such Laws, Acts, and Ordinances of New South Wales as are applicable to the Colony of New Zealand should continue to be acted upon and be applied therein. And, in order to remove any doubt which may exist whether the said Laws, Acts, or Ordinances of the said Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales are and continue in force within the said Colony of New Zealand from and subsequent to the date and proclamation of such Her Majesty’s Royal Charter and Letters Patent.

1. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by his Excellency the Governor in and over the Colony of New Zealand, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that so much of all and every of the Laws, Acts, and Ordinances heretofore made by the Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales, and now in force therein, as have already been, and can hereafter during the continuance of this Ordinance be, applied within the said Colony of New Zealand shall be, and the same are hereby, adopted and declared and directed to be extended to and applied in the Administration of Justice in the said Colony of New Zealand, in the like manner as all other the Laws of England, and as if the same had been repeated and re-enacted in this Ordinance. And whereas doubts may arise as to the validity of Acts done and performed in the said Colony of New Zealand since the date of her said Majesty’s Royal Charter and Letters Patent by his Excellency as the Lieutenant Governor of the same, and by Justices of the Peace, Officers of the Customs, Constables, and other officers, under and by virtue of the said in part recited Act of the Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales ; for the removal
2. Be it therefore further enacted that the said Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, and all Justices of the Peace, Officers of the Customs, Constables, and other officers, and all persons whom- soever therein who may have acted under and by virtue of any commission or appointment of her Majesty, or of the governor of New South Wales, or of the said lieutenant governor of the said colony of New Zealand, or under any orders and directions of the same Lieutenant Governor, or of his Excellency the Governor, since his assuming the Government of the said Colony of New Zealand, previous and up to the passing of this Ordinance, shall be, and they, and each and every one of them, are hereby indemnified against, and freed and discharged from, all damages, penalties, and forfeitures to which they, or any one of them, may have heretofore, or may now otherwise be liable for any act so done or performed.
3. And be it further enacted that no act done or performed by any such officer or other person aforesaid, shall be questioned or avoided in any Court of Law, by reason of any supposed want of power and authority, and that all such acts so done and performed shall be, and they are declared to be, as valid and effectual in Law, to all intents and purposes, as if each of such officers and persons aforesaid had done and performed such acts within and under, or by virtue of, any Law or Statute of the Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland.

And be it further enacted and ordained that in all or any of the said Acts of the Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales, which shall under and by virtue of this ordinance be brought into operation, and extended to and applied to the said Colony of New Zealand, whenever the words ” Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, Governor, Justice, or Justices of the Peace, or Government Gazette, of New South Wales,” are used in such Act or Acts, the same words shall be construed to mean, and shall include and extend to ” the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council of New Zealand,” or “Governor for the time being,” or ” all or any Justices or Justice of the Peace, and to the Government Gazette of the said Colony of New Zealand;” and that all words or expressions referring, and having relation, to New South Wales shall be, and the same are hereby directed to be, applied and construed to extend to the said Colony of New Zealand. WILLIAM HOBSON, Governor.   Passed the legislative council this 3rd day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.

JAMES COATES, Clerk of Councils.

The Charter of 1840. Constitution of the Colony of New Zealand into a separate colony. 16 November 1840. 

This disc was supplied by the Chief Archivist, Archives New Zealand before the Constitution Room at Archives New Zealand was dismantled and the Royal Charter was hidden from the public’s view in Archives storeroom. If future researchers want to research it now, it must be ordered, but that’s only if they know it exists. Do you?

The Tiriti o of Waitangi was in fact, only one of Six Documents that made New Zealand into a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed.                                

See: http://onenzfoundation.co.nz/the-six-documents-that-made-new-zealand-into-a-british-colony/

Researched by: The One New Zealand Foundation Inc. from documents held in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives, plus the British Parliamentary Papers. www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. 18/12/2024.

Lt. Governor Hobson’s One Treaty – One Principle.

“He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”.

Why do people continue to try to write Principles on the Treaty of Waitangi when Lt Governor Hobson gave us the true meaning, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”, no more, no less.  These are the only words Hobson spoke in the Maori language, explaining to those gathered, about 2000 Maori and settlers, the true meaning of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi on 6 February 1940. New Zealand at the time was under the dependency of New South Wales.

When Lt Governor Hobson drafted the Treaty of Waitangi, he made a point of being able to fully explain to the chiefs, in their own language, what the Treaty meant when they signed it.

After each of the 49 chiefs had signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi on 6 February 1840, Lt Governor Hobson shook their hand and pledged, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”. Maori were now British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England, no more – no less.

Since this time, many people have tried to twist the Treaty to say many things, but as Lt Governor Hobson stated at the time, it only said one thing, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”.  No mention was made of a Partnership or that Maori would have special rights over their fellow British Subjects, just “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”.

When Hobson became ill, this was the instruction he gave to those collecting further signatures. “The treaty which forms the base of all my proceedings was signed at Waitangi on the 6 February 1840, by 52 chiefs, 26 of whom were of the federation, and formed a majority of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. This instrument I consider to be de facto the treaty, and all signatures that are subsequently obtained are merely testimonials of adherence to the terms of that original document”. Lt. Governor Hobson.

“He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people’”. No more, no less.

This shows the Treaty of Waitangi only played a very small role in New Zealand becoming a British Colony as it only made Maori British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England. No more, no less. Once signed, the Treaty of Waitangi had achieved its purpose and was filed away.

Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated the 16 November 1840, issued under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”, then separated New Zealand from New South Wales dependency and made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed.                                                                

See: http://onenzfoundation.co.nz/the-six-documents-that-made-new-zealand-into-a-british-colony/

No one has the right to rewrite Lt Governor Hobson’s One Treaty Principle, “He iwi tahi tatou – we are now one people”.  Any principle other than Lt Governor Hobson’s is a fraud and must be ignored at all costs! Lt Governor Hobson gave one Principle, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”.  It’s a documented fact that cannot be denied or changed!

Researched by the One New Zealand Foundation Inc.  www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. 1/10/2024.

‘Maori’ today are not the ‘Maori’ who signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

All the Acts below are for a specific reason as Maori ancestry (blood quantum) became further and further diluted with other races. The first Act; “The Native Lands Act of 1865”.

The fact is, through the continuing intermarriage of their ancestors’ own free will with other races, government had to continually change the Acts to define, “Who is a Maori”?

Under the 1975 Waitangi Tribunal Act, Maori today can be a person with 1% Maori ancestry (blood quantum) and 99% of another race. This is ridiculous and must be changed!

It is now 50 years since the 1975 Treaty of Waitangi Act; therefore, Government must reassess and “Update the Statutory Definition of a Maori”.

The Maori race, through intermarriage of their ancestors’ own free will with other races has reached a stage where it is unrealistic to give Maori special rights and privileges in an Act, over all other New Zealand Citizens.

Government must, therefore, come to its senses and pass a new Act., “The New Zealand Citizens Act 20??: “all New Zealand Citizens will have the same rights under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed”.

This Act would honour both the Treaty of Waitangi and Lt. Governor Hobson’s one Treaty Principle, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”, New Zealand Citizens.

The eight Acts over the years to define, “Who is a Maori”.  Nine is an updated Act.

1. The Native Lands Act of 1865 defined a Maori as, “an Aboriginal Native and shall include all halfcastes and their descendants by Natives”.
2. The Qualification of Electors Act 1879 defined a Maori as, “an Aboriginal inhabitant of New Zealand and includes any halfcaste living as a member of a native tribe according to their customs and usages and any descendants of such a halfcaste by a Maori woman.
3. The Electoral Act 1893 defined a Maori as, “an Aboriginal inhabitant of New Zealand and includes halfcastes and their descendants by natives”.
4. The Native Land Court Act 1894 defines a Maori as, “an Aboriginal native of New Zealand and includes halfcastes and their descendants”.
5. The Native Land Acts 1909 defines a Maori as, “a person belonging to the Aboriginal race of New Zealand and includes a halfcaste and a person intermediate in blood between halfcaste and a person of pure descent from that race”.
6. The Maori Affairs Amendment Act 1974 defines a Maori as, “a person of the Maori race of New Zealand and includes any descendant of such a person”.
7. The Electoral Amendment Act 1975 defines a Maori as, “a person of the Maori race and includes any descendant of such a person who elects to be considered a Maori for the purposes of the Electoral Act”.
8. The 1975 Waitangi Tribunal Act defines a Maori as, “a person of the Maori race of New Zealand; and includes any descendant of such a person.
9. The New Zealand Citizen Act 20??: all New Zealand Citizens will have the same rights under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed.

Prepared by: The One New Zealand Foundation Inc. (Copyright). 26 July 2024.

Website; www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. Email: onzf@bigpond.com.au               

The Waitangi Tribunal, the Government, the Maori Party and most of New Zealand’s historians believe Maori ceded sovereignty to Britain in 1840, but did the tangata Maori have sovereignty to cede in 1840?

In R D Crosby’s book, The Musket Wars it shows the Maori tribes between 1806 and 1845 still practiced cannibalism and slavery and were continuously at war with each other. By 1845, half the population had either been killed, taken as slaves or eaten! “There was no political body capable of claiming sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840”. A documented fact, that cannot be denied!

British Resident James Busby had tried to get Maori sovereignty recognised over New Zealand with his “Declaration of Independence”, but he could only entice 34 chiefs to sign the Declaration before the ever-present tension and fighting took precedence over political co-operation, as always, and it was abandoned without one meeting taking place. It finally became evident; the tribes could never form a united Government. Lord Normanby who gave instructions for the Treaty to Lt Governor Hobson, had no idea of the situation in New Zealand and that the Declaration of Independence had been a complete failure when he told Lt. Governor Hobson, “If he could not claim sovereignty, to walk away”. Britain could only help the people of New Zealand if Britain had sovereignty over the whole country. In 1839 Britain had placed New Zealand under the Dependency of New South Wales, but this could never have happened if Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand.

When Lt Governor Hobson became ill while he was writing the draft for the Treaty of Waitangi in February 1840, he gave his rough notes to James Busby to complete. James Busby still believing his Declaration of Independence and his only “Claim to Fame” had given Maori sovereignty over New Zealand, asked the Maori to give up their sovereignty in Article 1 of “his” draft notes for the Treaty.

On the night of 4 February 1840, Lt Governor Hobson had recovered and gave “his” final Treaty draft to Rev Henry Williams and his son Edward, to translate into the Tiriti o Waitangi. Rev Williams, who had been in New Zealand since 1823 and had also translated the Declaration of Independence knew it had been a complete failure. He knew Maori did not have sovereignty over New Zealand, therefore, he changed “sovereignty” in Article 1 to “kawanatanga/government”. This is the word he had used for “government” in the Declaration. “Kawana” translates as “governor” and “tanga” as “assembly” – “Governor’s assembly” or “Government”.  Every back translation of the Treaty of Waitangi translates “kawanatanga” as “government”.

Chief Justice Prendergast ruled during the trial between Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington in 1877, “So far indeed as that instrument (The Treaty of Waitangi) purported to cede the sovereignty it must be regarded as a ‘simple nullity’. No political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”.

If the Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840, then Lt. Governor Hobson would have signed the Tiriti o Waitangi with their “Head of State”, but instead, he had to sign it with over 500 individual tribal chiefs, “As no political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”.

Both Rev Henry Williams and his son Edward knew Maori did not have sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840 to cede, the reason they changed “sovereignty” to “government” when he translated Lt. Governor Hobson’s final draft into the Tiriti o Waitangi. This change was accepted by both Hobson and Busby before the Tiriti o Waitangi was signed by over 500 tangata Maori chiefs in 1840.

By stating Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840 gives a false impression that Maori were a well-organized race of people with, “A political body capable of ceding sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain”. This could not be further from the truth as they consisted of hundreds of small tribes still practicing cannibalism, slavery and were constantly at war with each other. In fact, some travelling to the Chatham Islands killing or “Farming the peace-loving Moriori like swine” into virtual extinction.

In 1831, thirteen Ngāpuhi chiefs asked Britain to be their guardian and protector and from this their chiefs agreed to sign the Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840 and become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England. No more, no less, no partnership and no Co-governance with the Crown.

Prepared by the One New Zealand Foundation Inc. Website: www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. 20/6/24

The ONZF is concerned that David Seymour’s Treaty Bill will just open-up another can of worms as Attorney General, Hon Geoffrey Palmer’s, “Five Principles for Crown Action of the Treaty of Waitangi” has done since 1986.  The Treaty has only One Principle and that was the one given to the 49 tangata Maori chiefs at Waitangi by Lt. Governor Hobson on 6 February 1840 after they had signed the Tiriti o Waitangi with a handshake and the words, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people“. A documented fact that cannot be denied as there is no other Principle in the Tiriti o Waitangi!

The Tiriti o Waitangi asked the tangata Maori chiefs to give up their governments to Queen Victoria and in return, they would, “Become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England”. Over 500 tangata Maori chiefs agreed on behalf of their people, to sign the Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840 and became British Subjects under one law and one flag. Once the Tiriti o Waitangi had been signed by over 500 tangata Maori chiefs in 1840, it had achieved its purpose and was filed away.

Britain now had Sovereignty over all the Islands of New Zealand and New Zealand was under the dependency and laws of New South Wales until May 1841 when New Zealand became a British Colony by the Constitution Charter of New Zealand issued under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland” on 16 November 1840.

The Tiriti o of Waitangi was in fact, one of Six Documents that made New Zealand into a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed.                                

See: http://onenzfoundation.co.nz/the-six-documents-that-made-new-zealand-into-a-british-colony/

Over the years, there have been many attempts to write further Tiriti Principles as Lt Governor Hobson’s only Principle “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people” made it extremely difficult for the Waitangi Tribunal to give Maori special rights, privileges or laws when settling their alleged claims. Today we now have “Five Principles” dreamt up by Attorney General, Hon Geofrey Palmer in 1986 that completely contradict Lt. Governor Hobson’s one Principle. These “Five Principles” are a fraud and must be repealed immediately as they breach Lt. Governor Hobson’s, “Tiriti o Waitangi Principle”.

“He iwi tahi tatou” were the only words spoken by Lt Governor Hobson to the chiefs on 6 February 1840, therefore is, “The only, Tiriti o Waitangi’s Principle” issued by Lt. Governor Hobson.

This Principle was ratified by Constitutional Charter of New Zealand dated 16 November 1840 that was issued under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. The Constitutional Charter of New Zealand gave all the people of New Zealand the same rights as each other under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed.

While Queen Victoria had the authority to make the tangata Maori British Subjects, she could not give them special rights, privileges or laws not enjoyed by all the people of England, and none were given.

The Constitutional Charter of New Zealand was New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution as it separated New Zealand from New South Wales dependency and made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed.

The Tiriti o Waitangi and its one Principle, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people” gave the same rights to all the people of New Zealand under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed. A documented fact that cannot be denied!

The above information was researched by the One New Zealand Foundation Inc. from the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives plus the British Parliamentary Papers.

Prepared by the One New Zealand Foundation Inc. Website: www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. 20/6/2024

Colonisation did not destroy the tangata Māori’s way of life, it was Hongi Hika, Ngāpuhi who destroyed it when he returned from England in 1820 with over 500 muskets and went on the rampage South with 2000 of his followers, killing or taking as slaves, thousands of their unarmed countrymen, women, and children for the fun of it and the feasts that followed. It is estimated over 60,000 people, half the Maori population were killed between 1820 and 1840.

By 1831, the Southern tribes had gained muskets and were about to attack Ngāpuhi for utu/revenge, therefore, 13 Ngāpuhi chiefs wrote to the King of England asking him to be their protector and guardian. This led to the Six Documents below that made New Zealand into a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed. “Colonisation- The Salvation of the Maori Race”.

1. In 1831, 13 Ngāpuhi chiefs sent a letter to the King of England asking him to be their guardian and protector. This letter shows they were in trouble and needed British protection, not only from the southern tribes, but also from the French who were trying to claim New Zealand.
2. In 1833, Britain sent a Resident, James Busby, to bring peace between all the people of New Zealand. In 1835, he drafted the Declaration of Independence recognising Maori sovereignty over New Zealand, but he could only entice 34 to sign it before they were back fighting, and it was abandoned. It was obvious, the chiefs could not form a united body to claim sovereignty over New Zealand, a fact ruled by Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast in1877.
3. In 1839, Queen Victoria’s 1839 Royal Charter/Letters Patent placed New Zealand under the dependency of New South Wales. Britain could not have placed New Zealand under the dependency of New South Wales if Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand.
4. In 1840, over 500 tangata Maori Chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi that asked the chiefs to give up their governments to Queen Victoria, and in return, the tangata Maori would become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England. No more, no less. After each chief signed the Treaty at Waitangi, Lt. Governor Hobson shook their hand and repeated the Treaty’s one Principle, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”. This is the only “Principle” stated by Lt. Governor Hobson when he signed the Treaty of Waitangi. There were no others!
5. In 1840, on 16 November, Queen Victoria issued a Royal Charter/Letters Patent under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. This Charter separated New Zealand from New South Wales’s dependency and made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution. This Royal Charter was New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution. Without Queen Victoria’s 1840 Royal Charter/Letters Patent, New Zealand would have remained under the dependency of New South Wales.
6. In 1841, the First Sitting of the Legislative Council set up our political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed. A Nation of one people was born!

Until all the people of New Zealand are fully informed of these Six Documents that made New Zealand into a Democratic British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed, New Zealand will continue to be a divided Nation.

See: http://onenzfoundation.co.nz/the-six-documents-that-made-new-zealand-into-a-british-colony/

Colonisation – The Salvation of the Maori Race.

There is no other document in New Zealand’s history that comes anywhere near to our true Founding Document and first Constitution than Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840, but we must not overlook the other 5 documents that made this possible.

Researched by: The One New Zealand Foundation Inc. from documents held in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives, plus the British Parliamentary Papers. www.onenzfoundation.co.nz.  20/6/24.

A Treaty with many bogus translations and interpretations.

New Zealand’s so called Founding Document, the Treaty of Waitangi would be the worst drafted treaty in the world. After 184 years and hundreds of attempts to translate it, there is still no true translation or interpretation of this document. The latest translation being displayed in our National Museum, Te Papa by a distinguished Maori scholar, Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu admits it is only, “An attempt at reconstruction of the literal translation  of the Maori text”, because the Treaty of Waitangi is impossible to translate back into English as many of the words are made up words by Rev Henry Williams when he translated Lt. Governor Hobson’s final draft of the Treaty into the Maori language. But there are hundreds of other bogus translations out there being used to mislead the public on the Treaty of Waitangi’s true meaning to benefit part-Maori only. See: 1987 Court of Appeal, (C.A 54/87), page 663.

Before 1820, the tangata Maori, while constantly at war with each other over territories and disputes, were on an even scale as their only weapons were handheld combat weapons. This all changed after Hongi Hika, Ngāpuhi, who had been helping Professor Samual Lees with his English to Maori Dictionary, returned from England in 1820 with over 500 muskets, and went on a rampage south with 2000 of his followers, killing or taking slaves, thousands of their unarmed countrymen, women, and children for the fun of it and the feasts that followed. Therefore, it was not Colonization that destroy the tangata Māori’s way of life, it was Hongi Hika, Ngāpuhi and his 2000 followers and 500 muskets.

It was not long before the southern tribes had gained enough muskets to travel north for utu/revenge against Ngāpuhi. This caused Ngāpuhi to write to the King of England in 1831 asking him to be their guardian and protector. This was the start of Britain’s intervention in New Zealand by sending a British Resident, Jame Busby in 1833 to bring peace between the people of New Zealand.

Over half the Maori population of an estimated 100,000 people were taken as slaves, slaughtered, and/or eaten during the Musket Wars between 1820 and 1840.

In 1835 British Resident, James Busby had tried to get the chiefs to sign his Declaration of Independence to recognise Maori sovereignty over New Zealand but could only entice 52 chiefs to sign it. The chiefs were to assemble annually to promote peace, justice, and trade, but the ever-present intertribal tension and fighting took precedence over political co-operation as always, and it was abandoned without one meeting taking place. It was obvious the chiefs could never form a united working Government. “No political body existed capable of claiming sovereignty over New Zealand”.

New Zealand was placed under the dependency of New South Wales in 1939 by Royal Charter/Letters Patent issued under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. This could not have happened if the tangata Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand.

In 1838, the Undersecretary for Colonies, Sir James Stephens, a very strong supporter of the Clapham Sect; a group who campaigned for abolishing slavery and protecting indigenous people from colonial exploitation had drafted the initial instructions for a treaty with the “natives” of New Zealand. This document was amended by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Normanby.

Unfortunately, Lord Normanby had no idea whether Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand or not when he added this to Stephen’s draft, “We acknowledge New Zealand as a sovereign and independent state, so far at least as it is possible to make such an acknowledgement in favour of a people composed of numerous dispersed and petty tribes, who possess few political relations to each other, and are incompetent to act, or even to deliberate in concert”.  This statement by Lord Normanby completely contradicts himself, showing he had no idea of whether the current inhabitants of New Zealand had sovereignty over New Zealand or not in 1840! The evidence shows, they did not!

This was endorsed by Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast in 1877 when he ruled at the trial between Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington, “So far indeed as that instrument (The Treaty of Waitangi) purported to ceded sovereignty, it must be regarded as a ‘simple nullity’. No political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”.  Busby had tried, but had failed.

Captain William Hobson, who was made Lt. Governor of New Zealand in July 1839, was given a copy of Lord Normanby’s draft for a treaty with the “native” chiefs of New Zealand before he left England for New Zealand in August 1839. Lt. Governor Hobson was instructed to have the chiefs of the current inhabitants of New Zealand sign the Treaty of Waitangi, asking them give up their “sovereignty” to Queen Victoria and in return they would become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England.  While “sovereignty” was stated in Lord Normanby instructions, this was incorrect as there was no political body capable of claiming sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840.

When Lt Governor Hobson arrived New Zealand on the 29 January 1840, he went about drafting a treaty from Lord Normanby’s instructions but became ill and passed his unfinished treaty draft to British Resident James Busby to continue its draft.

Busby drafted a treaty basing it on his Declaration of Independence that the Maori chiefs had sovereignty over New Zealand. Lt Governor Hobson had recovered and simplified Bushy’s draft but left the word “sovereignty” in Article 1 of his final draft before it was given to Rev Henry Williams and his son Edward to translate into the Maori language on the night of 4 February 1840. 

Rev Henry Williams made changes to Hobson’s final draft (the Littlewood document), including using many made up words as no words were available in the Maori language, but also to clarify who Hobson was referring to in various parts of the Treaty. There were six main changes Rev Henry William made.

1. Rev Wiliams had been involved in drafting the Declaration of Independence and knew it had been a complete failure as Busby could only entice 52 chiefs to sign it before it was abandoned. He also knew, “That no political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”, therefore, changed “sovereignty” to “kawanatanga/government”.
2. Williams changed “people of New Zealand” to “chiefs and tribes of New Zealand” in the Preamble and to “tangata Maori” in article 3. He left “all the people of New Zealand” in article 2 as Hobson was referring to “all the people of New Zealand” in article 2.  
3. As Rev Henery Williams had been in New Zealand since 1823, he knew the “natives” Lord Normanby had referred to in his instructions were not the “tangata whenua” or original inhabitants as other races of people had inhabited New Zealand before these people, therefore, referred to these current inhabitants as “tangata Maori”.
4. The word “taonga” translated as “property” in 1840, but Kawharu translates it as, “all their treasures” in his back translation of the Treaty. Taonga has also had many other bogus translations over the years.
5. Rev William’s made up the word “kawanatanga” for “government” in article 1 and in article 2, “tino rangatiratanga/guaranteed possession of their lands and settlements etc”. referring to “all the people of New Zealand” and not just Maori as we are led to believe today.
6. “Tangata Maori” was the word Williams used to refer to the current inhabitants of New Zealand that Lt. Governor Hobson was authorised to deal with.

On the morning of 5 February 1840, Lt. Governor Hobson, British Resident, James Busby and Rev Henry Williams spent over an hour behind locked doors checking Rev Henry William’s translation of the Tiriti o Waitangi against Lt. Governor Hobson’s, “final draft”. When they were all completely satisfied the translation was as close as possible to Lord Normanby’s instructions, they were read to the gathering of chiefs, their people and the settlers who had gathered at Waitangi, about 2000 people in total. Once both documents were read, they were discussed by the chiefs and Lt. Governor Hobson for the rest of the day. Lt. Governor Hobson then said he would meet again on 7 February 1840 for those chiefs who wanted to sign the Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Many chiefs met at the Te Tii Marae that night and discussed the Treaty between themselves and Rev Williams well into the night. Re Henry William’s stating, “We gave them but one version, explaining clause by clause, showing they would be taken under the fostering care of the British Crown, by which act they would become one people with the British, in suppression of wars, and every lawless act, under one sovereignty and one law, human and divine”.  Most came to the decision; it was in their best interest to sign the Treaty of Waitangi as soon as possible.

Rev Henry William’s original translation of the Tiriti o Waitangi was given to the Rev Richard Taylor on the night of 5 February to transcribe onto dog skin, but this original translation has never been found. Rev Richard Taylor stating, “I kept the original copy for my efforts”.

Unfortunately, we will never know the amendments or changes that were made to Rev Henry Wiliam’s original translation at the meeting between Hobson, Busby, and Williams before it was read to the gathering at Waitangi on 5 February 1840, but we do know, that the Tiriti o Waitangi signed by over 500 tangata Maori chiefs had been fully agreed to by all three men, Hobson, Busby and Williams.   

Instead of waiting until 7 February 1840, the chief summoned Lt. Governor Hobson on the morning of 6 February 1840 as they wanted to sign the Treaty of Waitangi immediately and could not wait until 7 February 1840. While Lt. Governor Hobson was surprised, he turned up to sign the Tiriti o Waitangi, now on dog skin, in his casual clothes but wearing his “official hat”, and the signing by the chiefs began.

Without further discussion or rereading of the Tiriti o Waitangi, 49 chiefs signed it at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. As each chief signed, Lt Governor Hobson shook their hand and repeated the Tiriti’s one and only principle, “He iwi tahi Tatou – We are now one people”, to which the whole gathering gave 3 hearty cheers.

Once the Treaty had been signed at Waitangi, Lt. Governor Hobson became ill again and these were the instructions he gave to those gathering further signatures, “The treaty which forms the base of all my proceedings was signed at Waitangi on the 6 February 1840, by 52 chiefs, 26 of whom were of the federation, and formed a majority of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. This instrument I consider to be de facto the treaty, and all signatures that are subsequently obtained are merely testimonials of adherence to the terms of that original document”.

All signatures that were subsequently obtained were merely testimonials of adherence to the terms of the original document that was signed on 6 February 1840!  Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

While there was an English language version signed by 39 chiefs at Waikato, this document was only signed after an official CMS printed version of the Tiriti o Waitangi, one of 200 had been read and discussed, then signed by 5 chiefs before it could hold no more signatures and an “unofficial” English version written by Lt Governor Hobson’s Secretary, James Freeman, was produced to hold the overflow of signatures. These 2 copies were attached together and signed by Lt. Governor Hobson as one document. Records show there were 44 signatures gathered at Waikato, 5 on the official CMS printed Tiriti o Waitangi and 39 on the ‘unofficial” English Treaty of Waitangi. With regard to Lt. Governor Hobson’s signature on this document, he was extremely ill and would not have known what he was signing. In fact, it has been stated, it may not have even been his signature.   

If the tangata Maori had sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840, Lt. Governor Hobson would have signed the Tiriti o Waitangi with their Head of State, but “No political body existed capable of making cession of sovereignty”, so it was signed by over 500 individual chiefs. 

Once the Treaty was signed, it was filed away as it had achieved its purpose; the tangata Maori had given up their governments to Queen Victoria and in return, had become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England.

No more, no less, no Partnership, and definitely, no Co-governance!

The question we must now ask, “How did New Zealand become a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed”? It definitely was not the Tiriti o Waitangi as it made no mention of New Zealand becoming a British Colony!

Colonization did not destroy the tangata Māori’s way of life, it was Hongi Hika, Ngāpuhi who destroyed it when he returned from England in 1820 with over 500 muskets and went on the rampage south with 2000 of his followers, killing or taking s slaves thousands of their unarmed countrymen, women, and children for the fun of it and the feasts that followed.

Queen Victoria saved the tangata Maori race from total extinction by the Treaty of Waitangi allowing them to become British Subjects with the same rights and protection as the people of England.

Once the Tiriti o Waitangi had achieved its purpose and had been filed away, Queen Victoria issued a Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840 under, “The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This document made New Zealand into a British Colony with a Governor and Constitution that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour, or creed.

This is New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution.

For the next 40 or so years, the Colonial Government stopped the intertribal fighting, returned most of the land the chiefs had sold pre-treaty and quelled the rebel tribes with the help of the tribes who wanted peace between the tribes and the government. While land was confiscated at this time as payment to bring peace between the tribes, this was explained by Sir Apirana Ngata in his book, The Treaty of Waitangi – An Explanation, “Some have said that these confiscations were wrong and they contravened the articles of the Treaty of Waitangi, but the chief’s placed in the hands of the Queen of England the sovereignty and authority to make laws. Some sections of the Maori people violated that authority and war arose and blood was spilt. The law came into operation and land was taken in payment. This in itself is Maori custom -revenge- plunder to avenge a wrong. It was their chiefs who ceded that right to the Queen. The confiscations cannot, therefore, be objected to in the light of the Treaty”.

One of the largest meetings since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was held by the Government at Kohimarama in 1860 where over 200 chiefs unanimously agreed to, “‘Let this meeting be joined to the Treaty of Waitangi.’ Thus, the proposal was incorporated in a major resolution passed unanimously at the final session: “That this Conference takes cognizance of the fact that the several Chiefs, members thereof, are pledged to each other to do nothing inconsistent with their declared recognition of the Queen’s sovereignty, and of the union of the two races.” – MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE KOHIMARAMA CONFERENCE OF NATIVE CHIEFS, AJHR (1860).

Between 1930 – 40 there were many alleged claims for the confiscated land that in some cases had been taken unfairly by the government. These alleged claims were heard by the Courts under the laws of New Zealand and while land was returned to those tribes who had land taken unfairly as “full and final” settlements, other bogus claims were rejected through lack of evidence. The Treaty of Waitangi played no part in these claims, they were held solely by the Courts under the laws of New Zealand.

In 1975, the Labour Government in its infinite wisdom decided to enact the Treaty of Waitangi Act, which created the Waitangi Tribunal to hear alleged claims by Maori only against the Crown that occurred “after” this Act was enacted, Only Maori could lay a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal. These claims used an unauthorised English version of the Treaty of Waitangi that gave special rights and privilege to Maori only. The Tiriti o Waitangi signed on 6 February 1840 and signed by over 500 tangata Maori chiefs, gave equal rights to all the people of New Zealand, irrespective of race, colour or creed.

While few alleged claims were lodged against the Crown for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi “after” 1975, the Labour Government in 1986 allowed alleged claims dating back to 1840. This opened the flood gates to hundreds of alleged claims but were restricted by Queen Victoria’s 1840 Royal Charter/Letters Patent and Lt. Governor Hobson’s one Principle of the Treaty of Waitangi, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”.

In 1986, Attorney General, Geoffrey Palmer introduced his bogus “Five Principles for Crown Action on the Treaty of Waitangi”.  These Principles completely overruled Lt. Governor Hobson’s one Principle of, “He iwi tahi tatou – We are now one people”, as they gave part- Maori a Partnership with the Crown never intended by those who signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Not only did the “Five Principles” make part -Maori partners with the Crown, it also allowed the Waitangi Tribunal to interpret the Treaty of Waitangi using Hon Geoffry Palmer’s bogus “Five Principles”.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi – A Document with many bogus translations and interpretations.

The 1975 Treaty of Waitangi Act and Attorney General, Hon Geoffrey Palmers “Five Principles for Crown Action on the Treaty of Waitangi” was the most corrupt Act ever forced on the people of New Zealand by any government, as it gave part-Maori special rights not enjoyed by all the people of New Zealand or intended by those who signed the Treaty of Waitangi it in 1840.

While the Waitangi Tribunal was supposed to only make recommendations to Government, Government seldom opposes these recommendations that has allowed millions of hectares of land, public assets, and taxpayer’s money to be given to part-Maori based on hundreds of alleged claims, Palmer’s “Five Treaty of Waitangi Principles” and hundreds of bogus Treaty of Waitangi translations and interpretations.

In 2010 Prime Minister, Hon John Key allowed the Minister of Maori Affairs to travel to New York to sign the “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People”, without a mandate from the people of New Zealand, forensic evidence, or a government definition of, “The Indigenous People of New Zealand”. Forensic evidence proves, there were other races of people living in New Zealand before the tangata Maori arrived in the 14 th century. This was endorsed by Professor Ranginui Walker when Head of Maori Studies at the Auckland University on page 18 of the 1986 New Zealand Yearbook, stating, “When the canoe people arrived in the 14 th century, there were already tangata whenua, original inhabitants living in New Zealand”. Forensic evidence also proves, the tangata Maori were not the tangata whenua or the first people to inhabit New Zealand.

The Maori Party, formed by a dozen or so radical part-Maori elite and are now demanding a Co-governance arrangement with the Crown, when over 500 of their tangata Maori ancestors agreed in the 1840 Tiriti o Waitangi to become British subjects with the same rights as the people of England.

No more, no less, no partnership and definitely, no Co-governance!  

Sir Apirana Ngata gave this warning to his people in his book, The Treaty of Waitangi – An Explanation, “Let me issue a word of warning to those who are in the habit of bandying the name of the Treaty around to be very careful least it be made the means of incurring certain liabilities under the law which we do not know and which are being borne only by the Pakeha”.

It must also be remembered, since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, the tangata Maori have intermarried with other races of their own free will, therefore, are no longer the people who signed the Treaty in 1840. They are now New Zealand citizens of mixed ancestry, the same as the majority of New Zealanders, except they can claim a minute trace of tanga Maori ancestry from ancestors who were not the tangata whenua and agreed to become British Subjects with the same rights as the people of England in 1840.

The Treaty of Waitangi only played a very small role in New Zealand becoming a British Colony but is being used today to mislead the people of New Zealand of their true legal rights given to them by Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840. See: The Six documents that made New Zealand into a British Colony. Log onto: www.onenzfoundation.co.nz. 

When the truth is known, there is no other document in our history that comes anywhere to New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution than Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter/Letters Patent dated 16 November 1840. It ratified the Tiriti o Waitangi and made New Zealand into a British Colony under one flag and one law, irrespective of race, colour or creed.

No more, no less, no partnership and definitely, no Co-governance! 

We must ask ourselves, how did our governments, our lawyers and our academics get it so wrong when it is all there in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives, plus the British Parliamentary Papers. Have they got an ulterior motive or a hidden agenda? Whatever it is, it’s time they did a little more research using the institutions above! 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi – A Treaty with many bogus translations and interpretations.

This document was researched and written by the One New Zealand Foundation Inc. from documents held in the New Zealand, Australian and American Archives, plus the British Parliamentary Papers.

For Further information: www.onenzfoundation.co.nz or Email; ONZF@bigpond.com.au