In 1830 there were 100,000 Māori and 200 Europeans living in New Zealand. The behaviour of the Whalers, the Missionaries’ desire to help protect Māori rights and the Musket Wars were reasons that a treaty was needed. The Declaration of Independence was another contributing factor to the need for a treaty.
One reason that a treaty was needed was the lawless behaviour of some of the British Settlers like whalers. This is really important for Maori and Whalers so that there was less Violence between the nations and the whalers would act more responsible, respectful and at harmony with Maori. For example, There were up to 200 whalers in the 1830s that would be at sea for months at a time and when they would come back to shore in Pororarika now known at port Russel they would look for a way to relax, which meant that they would drink and introduced Porstuiton also this had lead to the starting off diseases that Maori had never seen. This begins to give Maori and missionaries a major concern. However more and more whalers came in the 1840s setting up in different places of New Zealand which had lead to more things. This is why they needed a treaty between Maori and whalers In New Zealand.
Another reason that a treaty was needed was to protect Māori rights. One group that felt strongly about this was the missionaries. This is because the missionaries had the best interest in the Maori community. This can be shown when the missionaries had shown Maori new technology such as gardening, writing and reading in Maori. Also, this could be seen when the Missonaire becomes concerned about when the whalers had come to shore at Pororika and been disrespectful to the land and introducing diseases and Prostitution. Lastly, they also fought for the Maori to have rights across the land. And here is why missionaries had the best interest for Maoris.
Another reason that a treaty was needed was the Musket Wars. Before the musket was introduced to Maori they would fight with Taiaha and mere (Taiaha is made out of wood and Mere out of greenstone). However, when the muskets had been introduced which was traded with food in return of muskets, It had been first traded with iwis at the top of the north island one of the iwis first introduced was Nga Puhi. This had given Nga Puhi power over other iwis at wars so they had a better chance of winning with the muskets in wars and that’s is what happened Nga Puhi struck at other Iwis with the musket which made more and more iwis forced to be in the trade with British and got bigger and bigger. Because of the muskets introduced to Maori when the wars were over, there were estimated to be over 20,000 people killed. Musket wars was a very very tragic thing and there was a need for a treaty and should have never ever been introduced and it ended up with thousands of people dead which is a tragic era.
The final reason that a treaty was needed was the existence of the Declaration of Independence.
What’s your opinion on the treaty?. Truthfully, I think the declaration of independence arrangement was better than the Treaty of Waitangi. This is because it gave Maori the mana and rangatiratanga over the land which was not good for the British as they wanted the power, Also New Zealand was known as an independent country under the united tribes of NZ which the declaration gave them and gave Maori tribes the right to be involved of the laws and arrangement of NZ with British. Lastly, the king was asked to guard over NZ as a protector. But in the treaty of Waitangi, the rangatiratanga of Maori over land was not allowed as it was in Britsh favour, not Maori. The declaration of independence gave the Maori more power which was a good thing, The declaration agreement was BETTER!!.
This essay has demonstrated that a treaty was needed. This can be shown in Paragraph 1,2,3 and four with my points and examples. I have learnt alot over the course of this topic from what the treaty actually meant too why was one needed. Which was because power was needed for the British over the land and Maori, Which is personally such a stupid thing for Maori and smart thing to do for British, I just think Maori did not need a treaty and was willing by themselves. This resulted in what can see in today, tomorrow and the future.
