Dear Editor
Why have a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi when it played such a small role in New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems? This was achieved by the six documents below that are held at Archives New Zealand but, except for the Tiriti o Waitangi, are completely ignored.
1. The letter to the King in 1831 by 13 Ngapuhi chiefs asking him to be their guardian and protector.
2. The Declaration of Independence, which was a complete failure as Maori did not have a united body that could claim sovereignty over New Zealand in 1835.
3. Queen Victoria’s 1839 Royal Charter that placed New Zealand under New South Wales dependency.
4. The Tiriti o Waitangi that asked the chiefs to give up their governments and in return, were given the same rights as the people of England. No more, no less!
5. Queen Victoria’s 1840 Royal Charter that separated New Zealand from New South Wales with a Governor and Constitution that made New Zealand into a British Colony.
6. The First Sitting of the Legislative Council in 1841 that set up New Zealand’s political, legal and justice systems under one flag and one law, irrespective of race colour or creed. New Zealand’s true Founding Document and first Constitution.
For further information: http://www.onenzfoundation.co.nz.
Regards,
Ross Baker.
ONZF.
