My perspective on the Treaty of Waitangi

After watching a video about Waitangi day, I changed my whole perspective on the Treaty of Waitangi. Turns out, clauses of the treaty were disobeyed and not honoured.

The first clause, giving Queen Victoria the rights of the New Zealand government. Meaning, Queen Victoria created the rules in NZ at that time. The second clause, giving the Maori total ownership over their lands. Though, the Maori were also allowed to or sell their land. The third and last clause, which was that Maori tribes get equal rights and duties as the Europeans do.

All clauses except for the the first clause, were not honoured. Many years later, there were tribes who tried to prevent the Europeans from settling, those tribes were branded or called rebels. This led to their land being confiscated,(Clause 2 dishonored). This was not fair at all, in the treaty it stated the Maori were in charge of their own land, which was part of the agreement. Yet the Europeans took matters into their own hands and decided to punish them, by taking their land.

In the 1860 war, Europeans gained power of the Maori. They bribed Maori tribes and warriors to fight against the other Maori protesters. The wars, were brutal, horrendous and murderous. The europeans had an advantage for they had more advanced weapons such as shotguns, swords, bayonets and military rifles. The Maori warriors only had spears, Patu (club), Pouwhenua (pointed fighting staff), Tewhatewha (axe-like fighting staff) and many more hand made weapons.

There are still Maori protesters, up to this day, who are unhappy about the celebrations of Waitangi day. This is because they believed the treaty was a fraud. The British were very careless, about the treaty, judging by what I've seen and heard.  

I strongly agree with the Maori people. Their land were encroached on and taken over, no wonder why they are mad. It was an absurd act from the Europeans, they disobeyed the rules on the treaty

and did not keep their word. From a Maori's perspective, I can understand where they’re coming from and their anger. Though at first, I was quite confused why, to some Maoris, Waitangi day was a sad and also angry day for them.

Other people think that they should move on from the past and focus on present. What do you think about Waitangi day?

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