8 Y5≥8 eXplore PARLIAMENT How does Parliament recognise the Treaty of Waitangi? There are many parliaments around the world, but only the New Zealand Parliament incorporates the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi into the work that it does. The Treaty is unique to New Zealand and gives our Parliament a special relationship with Māori as tangata whenua. What is the Treaty of Waitangi? The Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, is New Zealand’s founding document. It is an agreement, written in English and Māori, between the British Crown (Queen Victoria) and Māori. Representatives of many, but not all, iwi signed the Treaty. It established British authority over New Zealand and promised Māori full protection under British law. At the time, it was intended that the Treaty would create unity between Māori and Pākehā, but for a number of reasons both peoples had different understandings of what the document would deliver. Partly, this was because the English and Māori versions of the Treaty are not exact translations of each other. (For example, “kāwanatanga” [governance] in the Māori version becomes “sovereignty” in the English.) Despite these issues, the Treaty is still very important for New Zealand. Today, the New Zealand Government represents the Crown in the partnership with Māori. It must make sure that the principles of the Treaty are upheld in all its areas of responsibility. The Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Courtesy Archives New Zealand) Principles of the Treaty are recognised DID YOU KNOW ? in our laws The Treaty is an agreement, not a law, so it doesn’t TE REO MāORI IN THE HOUSE The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed explain anything in detail. For a long time, many DID YOU KNOW ? on 6 February 1840. The English New Zealanders did not feel the Treaty was relevant in 1868 The first Ma-ori members spoke little version had been written just a few Waitangi Tribunal decisions today’s world. But this view has changed, and it’s now English. They mostly spoke in te reo days earlier. A missionary, Henry have resulted in: seen as a living document with something to say to 21st Ma-ori and an interpreter translated Williams, and his son Edward had century Aotearoa. The courts, the Waitangi Tribunal, and • The protection of traditional their speeches. worked through the night to translate the Government have all supported this view and have food sources, especially it into Ma-ori. Hone Heke was the first tried to explain the principles behind the Treaty in ways kaimoana 1880s Three interpreters were employed to to sign, with about 40 more rangatira translate all Ma-ori members’ speeches into that everyone can understand. • The establishment, in 1987, signing that day. A further 500 signed English and to translate all bills into Ma-ori. of te reo Ma-ori as an official the Treaty in the next nine months. For example, in 1987 the Court of Appeal found that: language of New Zealand 1913 Apirana Ngata was told to speak in English Most chiefs signed the Ma-ori version. • The Treaty put in place a partnership, and the (following the Tribunal’s unless an interpreter was available. partners have a duty to act reasonably and in finding that it was a taonga good faith - that the Crown must 1930s It was agreed that Maori members of - • The Crown has freedom to govern protect) Parliament could use Maori as long as they were brief and immediately translated their • The Crown has a duty to actively protect Māori What steps has Parliament • The return of areas of land words into English. interests (large and small) to iwi, the taken to recognise the - • The Crown has a duty to remedy past breaches right for iwi to buy back 1987 Parliament made Maori an official language land, and the payments of in the House and members were allowed to Treaty? • Māori retain rangatiratanga over their resources - money to iwi. use either English or Maori. In the years that followed the signing of the and taonga and have all the rights and privileges of Treaty, instead of unity, there was conflict about citizenship 1997 Interpreters provide oral translations for land, which led to wars between Māori and the • The Crown has a duty to consult Māori all speeches and debates delivered in Ma-ori. Written translations are provided Government. • The needs of both Māori and the wider community for Hansard. Over the years, Māori protested to the must be met, which will require compromise. Government about their loss of land and loss of Today, all laws passed by Parliament must reflect the 2010 Simultaneous interpretation was access to other natural resources. In the 1960s principles of the Treaty. If necessary, the House asks for How does Parliament introduced. Whenever a member speaks in te reo Ma-ori, simultaneous interpretation and 1970s, many Māori took part in land marches advice from the Waitangi Tribunal to make sure there is into English is provided. and land occupations to publicise their grievances. no conflict with Treaty principles in any bill. recognise Māori as They argued that the Crown had not kept its Treaty tangata whenua? promises. Finally, Parliament decided that these claims of broken promises (breaches of the Treaty) In 1867, four Māori seats were set up to make sure should be properly investigated. that Māori were represented in Parliament. Since then, this number has increased to seven. The Waitangi Tribunal Many Māori MPs have brought the concerns of Māori, In October 1975, Parliament passed a law setting up THAT’s INTERESTING ! including breaches of the Treaty, to the House. the Waitangi Tribunal. The Tribunal is a committee In 1987, Māori became an official language of that investigates breaches of the Treaty. When it In 2004, Parliament passed a law New Zealand, meaning members of Parliament are finds that there has been a breach, the Tribunal allowing the Government to fund able to use te reo Māori in the House. a Ma-ori television channel. The makes recommendations to Parliament about how Waitangi Tribunal had earlier said to compensate Māori for their loss (for example, by Māori Affairs Committee room – that the Crown had a responsibility returning land or making a payment of money). Māui-Tikitiki-a-Taranga under the Treaty to protect te reo The Māori Affairs Committee is a select committee At first, the Tribunal could only deal with and tikanga Ma-ori as taonga. The breaches that took place after October 1975. But sole purpose of the new channel that deals with matters directly affecting the well- in 1985 the law was changed, allowing it to look at was to promote and revitalise Ma-ori being of Māori. It meets in a specially designed room. grievances that went right back to 1840. Since then, language and culture. Carvers and weavers from around New Zealand took the Tribunal has investigated and settled many part in decorating the room, creating designs that Treaty breaches. In some cases, the process has draw on the stories of all iwi. Opened in 1995, it is the taken many years. largest of the select committee rooms. Maui-Tikitiki-a-Taranga- (Photograph courtesy Office of the Clerk) Our House is your house Discussion and activities 1. Three important facts Working in pairs, discuss what you have read and decide on the three most important pieces of information found in the card. Write them on a piece of paper. For each one, write a sentence explaining why it is important. Compare your list with that of another pair. Discuss the reasons for your choices. As a group of four, decide again on the three most important pieces of information. Then combine with another group of four and repeat the process. 2. Find the meaning Identify words in this card that were new to you or that you didn’t understand. Write what you think each word means, find the definition, and then explain how the word relates to this context. Use the example to help you. Suggested words: rangatiratanga, taonga, compensate, breaches, grievances, principles, claims New word What we think it Dictionary In this context, it means means definition Sovereignty That the King Supreme power The Treaty gave Queen or Queen has or authority. Victoria authority over overall authority. everyone in New Zealand. 3. Try this Choose an issue of concern to Māori that has been discussed in Parliament. Discuss how one (or more) of the Treaty principles listed in this card is relevant to the issue. In a short paragraph, describe the issue and some of the opinions people have about it. Explain how the Treaty principle you discussed could be used to resolve the issue. 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