Treaty of Waitangi Timeline

The Treaty of Waitangi has been a hot topic over the last few weeks.

One of questions people have been asking is ‘Why is the church getting involved in this debate?” This is a fair question, especially as books such as the Penguin History of New Zealand don’t spend much time reporting the role that evangelical Christians and Missionaries had in the treaty. I thought it might be helpful to give a timeline and some brief notes highlighting the role key figures, including evangelical Christians, had in initiating, translating and encouraging Māori to sign the Treaty.

I’ve used Keith Newman’s book Bible and Treaty as a source for this post. Like every historian, Keith Newman has his own perspective, so I’d encourage everyone to keep on exploring this important topic. I’ve also used nzhistory.govt.nz and some internet references (Links below).

1780’s – 1840’s: William Wilberforce and the ‘Clapham Sect’

The ‘Clapham sect’ were Evangelical Anglicans who worked for penal reform, Christian missions, and fair treatment of people. They worked to abolish the slave trade and child labour. Anglican evangelical politician William Wilberforce was a key leader in this movement.

1807: James Stephen senior

Architect of the Slave Trade Abolition Act. Married to William Wilberforce’s sister. Lived in Clapham.

1833 James Stephen junior

James Stephen (junior) was a long serving Under-secretary for the colonies who ensured the Slavery Emancipation Act got through parliament.  He was an Anglican Christian associated with the ‘Clapham sect’.                                                                        

1833 James Busby (British Resident)

Appointed to protect orderly settlers and Māori from disorderly settlers, and sailors. He was given no tools to carry out his role.

1837 Edward Gibbon Wakefield

Forms the New Zealand Association. Wants to implement his ‘Systematic Colonisation Theory.’

1837 Publication of the House of Commons Report from the Select Committee on Aborigines. This select committee report was heavily influenced by evangelical Christians.

1838 James Stephen jnr. reads and hears disturbing reports about the impact of settlement on Māori, especially from Busby, Hobson and the Church Missionary Society.

He is especially concerned about the impact of Wakefield’s colonisation theory on Māori and the poor. So, he advocates for the implementation of Report from the Select Committee on Aborigines, especially the recommendation to extend the protection of English law to indigenous peoples. https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AJLH/2004/11.html

 1839 Lord Glenelg (Secretary for War and the Colonies)

Anglican Evangelical Christian. Glenelg responds to the concerns of James Stephen, Busby, Hobson and the Church Missionary Society. He approves draft instructions to William Hobson.

May 1839 Colonel William Wakefield (New Zealand Company)

Sets sail on the Tory. Aim: to set up a republic in NZ.   

August 1839 James Stephen junior

Writes these instructions for Hobson: [the British Government] “acknowledge New Zealand as a sovereign and independent state...admission of their [Māori] rights is binding on the faith of the British Crown. The Queen...disclaims...every pretension to seize on the Island of New Zealand...unless the free and intelligent consent of the natives...be first obtained.”

Jan 1840 Captain William Hobson (Lieutenant-governor, NSW, Captain of the Herald). Hobson arrives in the Bay of Islands.

3 Feb. 1840 Hobson & Busby

Draft the treaty.

1840 Henry Williams, Missionary.

Given little more than a day, Williams translates the treaty into Māori.

He translates the phrase “...cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England absolutely and without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty…” with this phrase:

 te Kawanatanga [governership] katoa o o ratou wenua

 He translates “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;..” with:

 Ko te Kuini o Ingarani ka wakarite ka wakaae ki nga Rangatira ki nga hapu-ki nga tangata katoa o Nu Tirani te tino rangatiratanga o  o ratou wenua o ratou kainga me o ratou taonga katoa.

https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/en/about/the-treaty/maori-and-english-versions

1840 Henry Williams, CMS and Wesleyan missionaries encourage Māori leaders to sign the treaty. They take take copies of the treaty around New Zealand to be signed by Māori leaders.

May 1840 Hobson sends soldiers to the New Zealand Company settlement at Port Nicholson to disband their council and to remove their independent national flag.

1975 Treaty of Waitangi Act.

1987 NZ Court of Appeal defines treaty principles.

1989 Treaty principles defined by the 4th Labour government.