Why The Treaty Was Needed

In 1830 there where native Māori and non-native 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.

The behaviour of the European whalers in NZ during 1830 was abysmal, to say the least. Whalers in NZ would easily spend months at a time in the ocean hunting dangerous marine life such as sperm whales. With most if not all of the crew were men and it’s the 1830’s there would, of course, be some trouble once they arrived back in town. Once back in town there would be rampant prostitution, drinking and fights. Maori would regularly face the problem of Whalers returning to their town just to get drunk have sex and spread disease (including STDs). Fights would also break out with Maori most likely getting involved as presumably many of the whalers would easily be at least partially racist towards them. The only good thing coming out of this would have been the trade aspect for the Maori but besides that, it was a nightmare. With a government in place, laws would presumably be established stopping such disgusting behaviour by these whalers. 

In New Zealand, during the British colonisation period, Missionaries were crucial in the treaty of Waitangi being signed. Missionaries came to New Zealand to convert the Maori to Christianity and in order to do that they realised they would have to become friendly towards the Maori. They would trade with the Maori regularly as well as provide tools and teach them new technologies such as farming. Missionaries were concerned over the mass purchase of land in New Zealand so they began purchasing land themselves then handing it over to the Maori as a show of goodwill. The muskets wars were resulting in thousands of Maori deaths and slaves, with french threats rising and whalers causing trouble the displeased missionaries would seek to create some sort of stability such as a government.

The musket wars were horrific. Maori had been shown muskets by the British and learned how great of a weapon they were, they would give anything for them. Millions of Maori died to their own culture as the new weapon traded by the European was incredibly powerful compared to their previous weapons. Maori had a tribalistic culture with a warrior-like lifestyle, they fought to protect their iwi and had to hunt and gather food in increasingly dangerous environments. Wars already waging between tribes would have one side all of a sudden come back with muskets and massacre the other. After the first tribe got theirs a chain reaction started were the next tribe needed it for protection or against a tribe they where fighting and then the cycle continued until you either had a musket or you were dead. In order to afford muskets, many tribes would trade food and the tribeswomen in order to pay for the muskets. This changed their lifestyle forcing them to stop growing or hunting certain types of food because it wasn’t effective enough or the British didn’t like it. The death and misery caused by the musket wars was a massive factor in the declaration of independence and the treaty.

Why did the British sign a declaration and then push a treaty? Early on when the Maori were still prospering despite the musket wars they were given the opportunity to have a declaration of independence. This declaration was the result of Missionarys pushing fair rights for the Maori, the British wanted to stop other powers colonising New Zealand and Maori wanting to keep their traditional ways without British interference. The declaration allowed for Maori to have more independence from other powers and allowing them to govern themselves. However, shortly after the signing of the declaration of independence, the British government decided that they wanted New Zealand under British rule. To make this a thing they pushed for more colonisation and the treaty of Waitangi.

In conclusion, a treaty was needed for New Zealand to get to where we are today. However that does not exclude the fact that thousands of Maori died to injustice because of the British, the treaty itself was a way for the British to gain power over the Maori for New Zealand. I think it should still be celebrated, New Zealand doesn’t have many events like this happen and despite the injustice caused by the events, it left New Zealand in a better spot than it would be. We changed because of these events and learnt from them, now Maori and Pakeha are equal by the law and generally live happily together in New Zealand. In the end, the treaty was worth it.