He Wakaputanga, the Declaration of Independence

October 28 is the anniversary of the signing of He Wakaputanga/The Declaration of Independence in 1835.  This document provides important context for the signing of te Tiriti/The Treaty.

By 1835 a growing desire for international recognition of New Zealand (and its governance) led to a meeting of chiefs at Waitangi. Concerned about the intentions of the growing number of Europeans, the chiefs put their signatures to a document which declared New Zealand a ‘whenua rangatira’, an independent country.

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (Declaration of Independence of New Zealand) was acknowledged and supported by the British Government.  It was sent to King William IV, and it was formally acknowledged by the Crown in May 1836. It continued to make its way around New Zealand gathering signatures until 1839.

In June 1835, Frenchman Charles Phillipe de Thierry had made his way to the Pacific where he announced himself the King of Nuku Hiva of the Marquesas Islands. He then notified James Busby of his intention to land in New Zealand to establish himself as the “sovereign chief” of New Zealand1. Understandably, James Busby saw de Thierry’s intention to claim sovereignty as a direct threat to the British position and authority in New Zealand, and responded with a declaration of his own. 

New Zealand’s Declaration of Independence, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni, of 1835, is the official Declaration of Independence and sovereignty of Māori over the lands formally known as Nu Tireni, but better known as Aotearoa New Zealand. This constitutional document was initially drafted by Busby, who had it translated into Māori by the Reverend Henry Williams of the Church Missionary Society.

He Whakaputanga consists of four articles.

1.        The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of Nu Tireni declare New Zealand

an independent state.

2.        New Zealand’s sovereign powers will reside with the collective chiefs of the land.

3.        Māori will hold congressional meetings every autumn in Waitangi,

4.        while the final article makes certain a copy of the Declaration is provided for the King of

England.

Eruera Pare Hongi, a close relative of Hongi Hika, produced a finalised version of the Declaration which was conclusively signed by 34 northern chiefs on the 28th of October.  James Busby assisted in having this Declaration immediately sent to the colonial office in Britain where it was finally received by King William VI who recognises Māori authority by registering the first flag of Nu Tireni - Te Kara2. By July 1839, another 18 chiefs from around Aotearoa had put their mark to the parchment.

For Māori, He Whakaputanga was an assertion of authority over these lands known as Aotearoa New Zealand. Northern Māori in particular consider He Whakaputanga the parent document of  Te Tiriti, citing that Māori recognition of ownership had to be acknowledged to enable a resulting Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 to be established3. For James Busby, some have said the Declaration was a double-edged sword merely acting as a tool to counter French claims of sovereignty, while at the same time, helped foster a closer working relationship with Māori.

Source:  www.waitangi.org.nz