The Treaty of Waitangi
Two texts, two languages — and they do not say the same thing
See it on the timeline →In depth
The English text uses "sovereignty"; the Māori text uses kāwanatanga, a transliteration of "governorship", while guaranteeing the chiefs tino rangatiratanga — full authority — over land and treasures. The great majority of the roughly 540 signatories signed the Māori version. The treaty was effectively set aside through the 19th century, then restored as a source of law by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975, which has since heard historical claims and delivered settlements. It is among the world's clearest cases of a document that is legally binding and contested at its core at the same time.
For children
British officials and Māori chiefs signed an agreement about how they would share the country. But the English and Māori texts say different things: in English the chiefs ceded sovereignty, in Māori only governorship. The disagreement about what was actually agreed is still going on.
Connects to
Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org