THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 

     This  declaration  was adopted at Waitangi  on  October  28,
     1835.   Thirty-five  ariki  and  rangatira  representing iwi
     and hapu  from the far north to the Hauraki Gulf signed  the
     declaration at that hui. Later, other notable leaders  added
     their  signatures;  those  from  outside  the  Tai   Tokerau
     included   Te  Hapuku  of Ngati  Kahungunu  and  Potatau  Te
     Wherowhero  of  Tainui.  The English  translation  presented
     here  was  sent  to  the Under Secretary  of  State  at  the
     Colonial  Office in London by James Busby, British  Resident
     in New Zealand, on 2nd November, 1835.

                            [Maori Text]

     1. KO MATOU, ko nga Tino Rangatira o nga iwi o Nu Tireni i
     raro mai o Hauraki kua oti nei te huihui i Waitangi i Tokerau
     i te ra 28 o Oketopa 1835, ka wakaputa i te Rangatiratanga o
     to matou wenua a ka meatia ka wakaputaia e matou he Wenua
     Rangatira, kia huaina, Ko te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu
     Tireni.

     2. Ko te Kingitanga ko te mana i te wenua o te wakaminenga o
     Nu Tireni ka meatia nei kei nga Tino Rangatira anake i to
     matou huihuinga, a ka mea hoki e kore e tukua e matou te
     wakarite ture ki te tahi hunga ke atu, me te tahi Kawanatanga
     hoki kia meatia i te wenua o te wakawakarite ana ki te
     ritenga o o matou ture e meatia nei matou i to matou
     huihuinga.

     3. Ko matou ko nga tino Rangatira ka mea nei kia kia huihui
     ki te runanga ki Waitangi a te Ngahuru i tenei tau i tenei
     tau ki te wakarite ture kia tika te hokohoko, a ka mea ki nga
     tauiwi o runga, kia wakarerea te wawai, kia mahara ai ki te
     wakaoranga o to matou wenua, a kia uru ratou ki te
     wakaminenga o Nu Tireni.

     4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o
     tenei o to matou wakaputanga nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei
     kawe atu i to matou aroha nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara mo
     matou. A no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga pakeha e
     noho nei i uta, e rere mai ana i te hokohoko, koia ka mea ai
     matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki a matou i to matou
     Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to matou Rangatiratanga.

     KUA WHAKAAETIA katoatia e matou i tenei ra i te 28 Oketopa,
     1835, ki te aroaro o te Reireneti o te Kingi o Ingarani.

 

                            [Translation]

            DECLARATION of the INDEPENDENCE of NEW ZEALAND

     1. We, the hereditary chiefs and heads of the tribes of the
     Northern parts of New Zealand, being assembled at Waitangi in
     the Bay of Islands on this 28th day of October, 1835, declare
     the Independence of our country, which is hereby constituted
     and declared to be an Independent State, under the
     designation of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

     2. All sovereign power and authority within the territories
     of the United Tribes of New Zealand is hereby declared to
     reside entirely and exclusively in the hereditary chiefs and
     heads of tribes in their collective capacity, who also
     declare that they will not permit any legislative authority
     separate from themselves in their collective capacity to
     exist, nor any function of government to be exercised within
     the said territories, unless by persons appointed by them,
     and acting under the authority of laws regularly enacted by
     them in Congress assembled.

     3. The hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes agree to meet in
     Congress at Waitangi in the autumn of each year, for the
     purpose of framing laws for the dispensation of justice, the
     preservation of peace and good order, and the regulation of
     trade; and they cordially invite the Southern tribes to lay
     aside their private animosities and to consult the safety and
     welfare of our common country, by joining the Confederation
     of the United Tribes.

     4. They also agree to send a copy of this Declaration to His
     Majesty the King of England, to thank him for his
     acknowledgement of their flag; and in return for the
     friendship and protection they have shown, and are prepared
     to show, to such of his subjects as have settled in their
     country, or resorted to its shores for the purposes of trade,
     they entreat that he will continue to be the parent of their
     infant State, and that he will become its Protector from all
     attempts upon its independence.

     Agreed to unanimously on this 28th day of October, 1835, in
     the presence of His Brittanic Majesty's Resident.

          {Signatures or signs of 35 chiefs, from North Cape to the
          Hauraki Gulf}

          Witnessed by:
           (Signed)    Henry Williams, Missionary, C.M.S.
                       George Clarke, C.M.S.
                       James C. Clendon, Merchant
                       Gilbert Mair, Merchant

     I certify that the above is a correct copy of the Declaration
     of the Chiefs, according to the translation of Missionaries who
     have resided ten years and upwards in the country; and it is
     transmitted to His Most Gracious Majesty the King of England,
     at the unanimous request of the chiefs.

                              (Signed)       JAMES BUSBY
                                    British Resident of New Zealand