The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti O Waitangi

What is the Treaty of Waitangi?

The Treaty brought two parties together in a contract that was about governance and protection of rights.

The two parties were Maori (the tangata whenua, people of the land); and the British Crown.

The Treaty was signed because it promised benefits to both sides.
The British Crown needed to legitimate their growing presence, as colonisation was already under way. There was a strong humanitarian lobby group at that time which was concerned to ensure that the "Natives" would get a fair deal.

 
The promise of the Treaty was for a society in which the two peoples could happily co-exist. The Treaty was also about promises made to Maori in exchange for the right to settle on these shores.
The Treaty is a short document, comprising a preamble and three brief Articles. Complications of interpretation arose because there are two versions of the Treaty, one in Maori and one in English which is not a direct translation. Maori (mostly) signed the Maori version. Hobson, for the Crown, signed both versions. It is important to recognise both versions when dealing with Treaty issues.
The preamble states how Queen Victoria desired to preserve (Maori) their chieftainship and their land and her wish to arrange governorship lest evils come to the Maori people and the Europeans who (were) living here without law

Article One talks of governorship in the Maori version, and sovereignty in the English version, having been ceded to the Queen of England. This article is the source of the concept of partnership often used in reference to the Treaty.

Article Two of the Maori version protects Maori self-determination (tino rangatiratanga), resources, and everything of value, whilst the English version confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of Lands and Estates, Forest, Fisheries and other properties. This article is the source of protection of things Maori, their right to determine what is important for them, and to the resources to ensure they can achieve these aspirations.

Article Three of both versions states that the Queen will protect the Maori people and give them all the same rights as those of the people of England. This article is really about equity.
(The above material is taken from notes provided by Jenny Ritchie at a July and October 2000 professional development course delivered to the Auckland Kindergarten Association teachers at Auckland College of Education)

What is the Waikato Kindergarten Association position on the Treaty of Waitangi/ Te Tiriti O Waitangi?

The Waikato Kindergarten Association acknowledges Maori as tangata whenua, (the people of the land), and will pro-actively consult and collaborate with Maori in order to bring a balance  to the organisation.

It embraces the possibilities and challenge of individual, management and teacher knowledge development and cross-cultural exchange, which will assist us to provide a bi-cultural curriculum for children attending the Waikato Kindergarten Association kindergartens, with commitment, confidence and competence.