What perspectives were held by different groups of people at the time of signing?
1) Māori Perspective
Māori were divided on whether or not to sign the Treaty. By signing Māori expected to gain more access to Pakeha traders and to improve trade with the outside world. They wanted control of undesirable Pakeha practices through the introduction of British law in the country. They also wanted to sell land to the increased number of settlers the Treaty would bring. Overall, they expected confirmation of their rangatiratanga or chieftainship over the land, and to have the British support them in their chieftainship.
Māori were divided on whether or not to sign the Treaty. By signing Māori expected to gain more access to Pakeha traders and to improve trade with the outside world. They wanted control of undesirable Pakeha practices through the introduction of British law in the country. They also wanted to sell land to the increased number of settlers the Treaty would bring. Overall, they expected confirmation of their rangatiratanga or chieftainship over the land, and to have the British support them in their chieftainship.
The Cultures Collide (1988), Peter Woodcock, pg.46
2) British Perspective
The British required that sovereignty be ceded by Māori to the British for the entire country. They expected pre-emption of the lands, meaning that Māori were not allowed to sell land to a settler who is not British. This locked the French out of land purchases. The Governor was to impose British law throughout the country, equally to both races. Governor Hobson was given the instruction that Māori needed to give their full co-operation and understanding before signing the Treaty. Lord Normanby of the British Colonial Office instructed Hobson that fair treaty process required "the free and intelligent consent of the natives."
"You will not, for example, purchase from them any Territory the retention of which by them would be essential, or highly conducive, to their own comfort, safety or subsistence. The acquisition of Land by the Crown for the future Settlement of British Subjects must be confined to such Districts as the Natives can alienate without distress or serious inconvenience to themselves. To secure the observance of this rule will be one of the first duties of their official protector." - Lord Normanby's Instructions to Hobson, 1840
The British required that sovereignty be ceded by Māori to the British for the entire country. They expected pre-emption of the lands, meaning that Māori were not allowed to sell land to a settler who is not British. This locked the French out of land purchases. The Governor was to impose British law throughout the country, equally to both races. Governor Hobson was given the instruction that Māori needed to give their full co-operation and understanding before signing the Treaty. Lord Normanby of the British Colonial Office instructed Hobson that fair treaty process required "the free and intelligent consent of the natives."
"You will not, for example, purchase from them any Territory the retention of which by them would be essential, or highly conducive, to their own comfort, safety or subsistence. The acquisition of Land by the Crown for the future Settlement of British Subjects must be confined to such Districts as the Natives can alienate without distress or serious inconvenience to themselves. To secure the observance of this rule will be one of the first duties of their official protector." - Lord Normanby's Instructions to Hobson, 1840
3) Historiography
Some historians argue that there was deliberate deception by the British to achieve their goals of annexing New Zealand. There were errors in translation regarding the term Sovereignty and its translation into Kawangatanga or Rangatiratanga. Some claim the term Mana would have been a more accurate translation, however Henry Williams knew that Māori would not have signed with this word included. Historians argue that this mistranslation was made in the interests of nation-building and to serve the British citizens.