Treaty Signed: New Zealand Becomes British Colony
Captain William Hobson and roughly forty Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840, establishing British sovereignty over New Zealand while guaranteeing Maori chiefs 'full exclusive and undisturbed possession' of their lands, forests, and fisheries. The treaty existed in two versions, English and Maori, and the translations did not match. The English version ceded sovereignty to the Crown; the Maori version used the word 'kawanatanga' (governance), which Maori chiefs understood as granting administrative authority while retaining their own 'rangatiratanga' (chieftainship). This translation gap became the fault line for 180 years of conflict. British settlers arrived in massive numbers, and within decades, confiscation, fraudulent purchases, and armed conflicts stripped Maori of most of their land. The Waitangi Tribunal, established in 1975, continues to adjudicate treaty grievances. February 6 is New Zealand's national day.
February 6, 1840
186 years ago
Key Figures & Places
United Kingdom
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New Zealand
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Treaty of Waitangi
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Treaty of Waitangi
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New Zealand
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Waitangi Day
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National day
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Día festivo
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1970
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1840
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Māori people
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Couronne (Commonwealth)
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Histoire de la Nouvelle-Zélande
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British Empire
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British
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