Queen Victoria Speech

Next week our class is hosting and presenting in our school assembly. We figured (Mrs. Tofa figured) that we do an assembly item on Waitangi Day. We had to choose someone who signed the treaty or was involved in making it, and write a speech about the treaty. We had to write from the perspectives of the people we chose, and then say the speech as if we were them (the character, not exactly character). I chose Queen Victoria, one of the longest reigning monarchs that has ever ruled England.

Facts on Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria was Queen of the United kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Queen Victoria was married to Prince Albert Consort(Fact: Apparently Prince Albert is her cousin!), who died on  the 14th of December, 1841( by a fever and died at 42 years old). As for Queen Victoria, she died from Intracerebral hemorrhage, (A type of stroke). She died. on the 22nd of January 1901. Victoria had 9 children, she had 5 daughters and 4 sons.

Victoria sent James Busby as a representative on her behalf to create the treaty and to convince the Maori to sign. She also sent a few other Europeans too. Some Maori chiefs had to protect the Queen back then which was part of an agreement in the treaty.

My speech as Queen Victoria

“Victoria is my name, Queen Victoria to be exact.  I am the Empress of India, Queen of England and the Queen of Ireland also. As the  queen of England I am  prepared to take on any country I come face to face, allies or non allies. As one of the most longest reigning monarchs who has ever ruled England, I need to make the days of being a Queen count. Speaking of rules, New Zealand(Odd name, soon to be New England) needs a couple of them. What a great opportunity to rule another country, and help of course, they seem reasonable. Creating a treaty is a great way to settle things between our countries, though we need the Maoris, is that correct term, Maoris?, to sign the treaty before the French get to them first. I put my trust in William to accomplish this for me, as well as James too. From what I've heard, Maori warriors are very fierce men and women. I could use some more protection up in the Palace, perhaps I could add that to the treaty, but that is to be determined later.”

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I present to you Queen Victoria

Why the Treaty of Waitangi was needed

My reading group Kea, worked together to find out Why the Treaty of Waitangi was needed. Here is what we came up with.

Why a treaty was needed?

Maori-  

They desperately needed the treaty due to the behavior of European settlers in Kororareka/ Russell.  Also because the Europeans offered better and more advanced weapons which the Maori people wanted their hands on. They also signed the treaty because they wanted regulated settlement and support in controlling settlers and land sales.

Why some didn’t sign the treaty

The treaty was not passed on to some areas in NZ, like Hawks bay. There were treaty meetings, which some chiefs did not attend. The negotiators were impatient and decided to cut them out. Copies of the treaty reached other areas, but the chiefs refused to sign it. The chiefs valued their independence and were not prepared to work for the Queen.

Europeans -

The Europeans wanted the Treaty because they wanted all their Land ( Oil, Weapons, Tech and power, fame and righteousness).

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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