Why did British and Māori see a need to create a treaty in 1840?
On each page you should be using lots of primary and secondary resources to answer your focusing question.
You can scan these resources in from your folders (ask me how to do it) or download resources from websites.
All resources need to be properly referenced using hyperlinks or written referencing.
For example... Answer the question in your own words, then support it with primary or secondary evidence.
You can scan these resources in from your folders (ask me how to do it) or download resources from websites.
All resources need to be properly referenced using hyperlinks or written referencing.
For example... Answer the question in your own words, then support it with primary or secondary evidence.
1) French Interests in New Zealand
Around this time there were no French colonies established in the Pacific. Approximately 60 French whaling ships were making the regular crossing between France and New Zealand for the lucrative whale trade. A French annexation of the South Island of New Zealand, an area a quarter of the size of France, with only about three or four thousand Māori inhabitants, would have been perfect for French needs. The North Island was already well populated with British colonists, and on the way to annexation for Great Britain. Action had to be undertaken swiftly if the South Island was to become a French colony. France negotiated with 12 Ngai-Tahu Māori chiefs and he bought of most of Banks Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand.
"According to the deed, in French, dated 2nd August 1838, the land was bought from the Māori for a deposit of 150 French francs in goods. The goods the Māori received initially were: 2 cloaks, 6 pairs of trousers, 12 hats, 2 pairs of shoes, some pistols, axes and 2 shirts." - New Zealand in History
Around this time there were no French colonies established in the Pacific. Approximately 60 French whaling ships were making the regular crossing between France and New Zealand for the lucrative whale trade. A French annexation of the South Island of New Zealand, an area a quarter of the size of France, with only about three or four thousand Māori inhabitants, would have been perfect for French needs. The North Island was already well populated with British colonists, and on the way to annexation for Great Britain. Action had to be undertaken swiftly if the South Island was to become a French colony. France negotiated with 12 Ngai-Tahu Māori chiefs and he bought of most of Banks Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand.
"According to the deed, in French, dated 2nd August 1838, the land was bought from the Māori for a deposit of 150 French francs in goods. The goods the Māori received initially were: 2 cloaks, 6 pairs of trousers, 12 hats, 2 pairs of shoes, some pistols, axes and 2 shirts." - New Zealand in History
When it was reported that the British Government intended to take possession of New Zealand, the French Baron De Thierry wrote to the Missionary body at the Waimate, advising them to establish themselves as an independent State, with himself as the King of New Zealand. In 1825 Thierry went to Paris and offered the French government his Hokianga land for a colony, on condition that he be appointed governor. He claimed that New Zealand chiefs had appointed him sovereign chief of the islands. France promptly acted upon his suggestion and a French immigration company was formed called the Bourdelaise Compagnie. Two vessels were fitted out with all expedition and filled with emigrants. They reached the Bay of Islands only a few days after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Although few took De Thierry seriously, James Busby saw a very real French threat in New Zealand and rushed to create the Treaty before the Bourdelaise Compagnie fleet arrived.
2) Lawlessness
All matters to do with British colonies were handled by the London Colonial Office. This was a government department. Once the decision was made to take control of parts of New Zealand, instructions were prepared and given to Captain William Hobson, who was to become the first governor of the new colony. Lord Normanby was Secretary of the Colonies and was concerned with the increasing lawlessness of the British settlers arriving in New Zealand. In his instructions addressed to Captain Hobson, Normanby stated his concern about the poor behaviour of the new settlers. Lord Normanby saw a treaty as an important step in protecting the peace and order in New Zealand for both the Māori and British Settlers.
" ...a body of not less than two thousand British subjects has become permanent inhabitants of New Zealand, that amongst them were many persons of bad and doubtful character - convicts who had fled from our penal settlements, or seamen who had deserted their ships - and that these people, unrestrained by any law and amenable to no tribunals, were alternately the authors and victims of every species of crime and outrage." - Lord Normanby's Brief
All matters to do with British colonies were handled by the London Colonial Office. This was a government department. Once the decision was made to take control of parts of New Zealand, instructions were prepared and given to Captain William Hobson, who was to become the first governor of the new colony. Lord Normanby was Secretary of the Colonies and was concerned with the increasing lawlessness of the British settlers arriving in New Zealand. In his instructions addressed to Captain Hobson, Normanby stated his concern about the poor behaviour of the new settlers. Lord Normanby saw a treaty as an important step in protecting the peace and order in New Zealand for both the Māori and British Settlers.
" ...a body of not less than two thousand British subjects has become permanent inhabitants of New Zealand, that amongst them were many persons of bad and doubtful character - convicts who had fled from our penal settlements, or seamen who had deserted their ships - and that these people, unrestrained by any law and amenable to no tribunals, were alternately the authors and victims of every species of crime and outrage." - Lord Normanby's Brief
Upon his arrival in 1833, James Busby described New Zealand as "extreme frontier chaos" and the capital city of Kororareka was nicknamed the "hell-hole of the Pacific". Attacks were reasonably frequent, with news of the Boyd Massacre (1809) causing Governor MacQuarrie to claim that "the New Zealanders are in general a very treacherous race of people and not to be trusted".
The Harriet Affair (1834) made international news that emphasised Māori savagery. It was reported how Māori attacked the ship, then cut up and ate 12 shipwrecked Europeans:
"[The Maori] stripped her and her children naked, dragged her to their huts, and would have killed her, had not a Chief’s wife kindly interfered on her behalf, and when the bludgeon was raised with that intention, threw a rug over her person, and saved her life….." - Sydney Herald on 17 November 1834
The man-of-war HMS Alligator and the colonial schooner Isabella arrived in Taranaki in September 1834 with a detachment of 60 men from the 50th Regiment. These soldiers were the first British troops to come into armed combat with Māori. There were about 103 Māori on the beach and the HMS Alligator fired on them, killing them all.
"[The Maori] stripped her and her children naked, dragged her to their huts, and would have killed her, had not a Chief’s wife kindly interfered on her behalf, and when the bludgeon was raised with that intention, threw a rug over her person, and saved her life….." - Sydney Herald on 17 November 1834
The man-of-war HMS Alligator and the colonial schooner Isabella arrived in Taranaki in September 1834 with a detachment of 60 men from the 50th Regiment. These soldiers were the first British troops to come into armed combat with Māori. There were about 103 Māori on the beach and the HMS Alligator fired on them, killing them all.
3) Historiography
For historians like James Belich, instances of conflict were ‘exaggerated and misinterpreted’. He argues that the level of Māori–European violence was small compared to the amount of contact. He points out that during the Musket Wars very little European property was taken and almost no Pākehā were killed. For Belich, the question was not why there was so much interracial violence but why there was so little.
For historians like James Belich, instances of conflict were ‘exaggerated and misinterpreted’. He argues that the level of Māori–European violence was small compared to the amount of contact. He points out that during the Musket Wars very little European property was taken and almost no Pākehā were killed. For Belich, the question was not why there was so much interracial violence but why there was so little.
- James Belich, Making peoples( 1996), pg.171