The Treaty of Waitangi
Here are some notes from a recent paper entitled 'Some Speculations on Māori Identity in the New Zealand of tomorrow'. Available from www.charles-royal.com In advocating for a new identity 'post-settlement' of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, it might be helpful to offer some thoughts on the Treaty. In my view, the Treaty was never designed as an instrument for the alleviation of grievance. Rather its purpose was more forward looking, guaranteeing and entrenching certain rights to those representing 'tino rangatiratanga' and establishing new rights for those representing 'kāwanatanga'. I do not believe that my ancestors, who signed the Treaty upon Kapiti Island and elsewhere, would have signed the Treaty if they truly believed that their rangatiratanga was soon to be seriously compromised and undermined. Rather I think they saw the Treaty as a way of entrenching their position as well as introducing some order into relationships with the newly arriv