The Treaty of Waitangi was prepared over just a few days in February 1840. On the day that it was first signed, there were versions in English and Maori. Given the intense debate that surrounds the Treaty, questions have been asked as to whether the Treaty was drafted too quickly. Some have even asked if the Crown officials knew what they were doing. William Hobson was a naval officer, not a lawyer or bureaucrat. Was the translation into Maori rushed, ambiguous or misleading?
Use the section Read the Treaty to help you complete the following activities.
- Who was involved in drafting and preparing the Treaty for presentation to Maori at Waitangi?
- Outline Henry Williams's role in preparing the Treaty for presentation at Waitangi.
- What did the British believe they had gained as a result of the Treaty of Waitangi?
- What did Maori believe they had agreed to?
- What were some of the key differences between the Maori and English versions of the Treaty?
- In your opinion, was the translation of the Treaty into Maori rushed, ambiguous or misleading? Explain your answer.
- If you had been Hobson, what might you have done differently?
- Why did most Maori gathered at Waitangi agree to sign the Treaty?
