The Treaty of Waitangi

Today we headed from Auckland north to the Bay of Islands and in the process stepped back in time to the year 1840. When the first explorers from Europe came to the land we now know as New Zealand they encountered a vibrant Maori culture. There were tensions between the new settlers and the Maori, tension over land and resources, tensions that often erupted into battle. Not only were the British vying for control over New Zealand, but so too were the French. In an effort to solidify their influence, the British drew up a treaty with the Maori that would give the British crown and not the French access to the lands of the Maori. The treaty, known as the Treaty of Waitangi, was negotiated with over 500 Maori chiefs and was ultimately signed by 25 of the 28 Maori tribes. While aspects of the treaty are still debated to this day, the Treaty of Waitangi paved the path for the British and the Maori to live and work in New Zealand in peace. We visited the sight of the treaty signing where you will find a navel flagstaff flying 3 flags of New Zealand, the Union Jack from Britain, the original United Tribes trading flag that combined elements of Maori and British influences and the current flag that combines the two. We also had the good fortune to visit a Marae erected on the treaty grounds to commemorate the historic negotiations between Maori leaders leading up to the ratification of the treaty. Each of the 28 Maori tribes is represented in a stunning carving that depicts the unique genealogy of the tribe. When the Maori speak of genealogy they mean more than just their human ancestors, they also refer to the land their people come from. The mountain, river and land associated with a tribe is represented in their carving. These carvings are an amazing form of storytelling and create a truly unique historical record.