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On 6 February 1840 William Hobson and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, the basis of Britain's annexation of the North Island that May (the South Island was claimed by right of discovery). In the English text Māori cede 'sovereignty' and are guaranteed 'undisturbed possession' of their lands; in the Māori text, which most chiefs signed (only 39 signed the English), they grant kawanatanga, 'governorship', and keep tino rangatiratanga, 'full chieftainship'.
The mechanism
CUSTODY OF THE WORD
How it was checked
- EvidenceT5 INDEPENDENT SECULAR; Status: ADDED 2026-09-19
- Letter eraTHE SEAT MOVES TO THE BENCH 1713 to 1945
- SourcesRECORD — Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand), 'The content of the Treaty of Waitangi'; Britannica, 'Te Tiriti o Waitangi' · checked 19 September: Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand), 'The content of the Treaty of Waitangi' (the row's source); Britannica (read in a browser; WebFetch is refused by the site), 'Te Tiriti o Waitangi'
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