The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Te Tiriti o Waitangi) was signed on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It was signed by representatives of the British Crown, and chiefs from the North Island. The British Resident, James Busby, had earlier convinced some 35 of these chiefs to claim independence as the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

From the British point of view, The Treaty, as New Zealanders often call it, justified making New Zealand a British colony. Today it is generally considered the founding point of New Zealand as a nation. However, there have been major issues concerning the original translation of the treaty from English to Māori. An example is kawanatanga, a calque transplanted from the English, which appeared in the Māori language for the first time in the Treaty. It was used there to translate the concept of sovereignty; it is often stated that Māori had no word for sovereignty in their language at the time, although some respond that the Māori "mana" had been used to describe Māori sovereignty in the Declaration of Independence in 1835. The word is made up of kawana, a transliteration into Māori of the English word governor, and the existing Māori suffix -tanga, similar to the English -ship or -dom. A literal translation of the word, therefore, would be governorship. Other Māori words with the suffix -tanga include rangatiratanga, "chieftainship", and kingitanga, "kingship".

The meaning attached to this word, and in particular how it relates to rangatiratanga, is vital to discussion of the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty is still vitally important in modern New Zealand, and remains the object of much controversy and political debate, (see tino rangatiratanga).

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Does anyone remember who translated the treaty of waitangi?
milzyjohnrock (Emily Johnstone) Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:34:08 -0000
Does anyone remember who translated the treaty of waitangi?
@sarahemadden 5 historical figures - Martin Luther King, the guy that wrote the treaty of waitangi - to ask WTF , Jesus, JFK & Anne Frank
KimWoodland (Kim Woodland) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:07:17 -0000
@sarahemadden 5 historical figures - Martin Luther King, the guy that wrote the treaty of waitangi - to ask WTF , Jesus, JFK & Anne Frank
1840 is where the Treaty of Waitangi is signed, British sovereignty over NZ is proclaimed, and Auckland/Wellington were founded. #BBBT
hackathorn (Richard Hackathorn) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:53:43 -0000
1840 is where the Treaty of Waitangi is signed, British sovereignty over NZ is proclaimed, and Auckland/Wellington were founded. #BBBT
Treaty of Waitangi: An article from a New Zealander's point of view. Looking at what happened with the signing .. http://tinyurl.com/yk3vd62
articles4author (articles4authors) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:50:09 -0000
Treaty of Waitangi: An article from a New Zealander's point of view. Looking at what happened with the signing .. http://tinyurl.com/yk3vd62
Treaty of Waitangi- An article from a New Zealander's point of view. Looking at what happened with the signing of t... http://bit.ly/by0Hl
chunian (Chunian) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:57:48 -0000
Treaty of Waitangi- An article from a New Zealander's point of view. Looking at what happened with the signing of t... http://bit.ly/by0Hl
Tangata Tiriti Treaty of Waitangi Workshop, this Saturday at Auckland Regional Migrant Services, 9 - 4. Come if you... http://bit.ly/2lXZKm
nzdiversity (NZ Diversity) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:52:36 -0000
Tangata Tiriti Treaty of Waitangi Workshop, this Saturday at Auckland Regional Migrant Services, 9 - 4. Come if you... http://bit.ly/2lXZKm

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