I came across these in my files this week and just thought I would post them here: first, because they are beautifully clear printing efforts by William Colenso (in 1836) and John Telford (in 1845) on the Paihia mission press; and second, because they are reminders of how interwoven the story of these documents are with the story of Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand. These documents or translations of original English drafts were, at the same time, products of sustained Māori language study by the Church Missionary Society contingent, of the concepts of the Christian scriptures, and of dialogue between CMS missionaries and Māori leaders (and British Resident, James Busby) over the shape of New Zealand’s political future. Thirdly, although their words and meanings can be interpreted in multiple ways, they speak clearly to the political context of Aotearoa New Zealand in the 1830s: emerging from the shattering effects of the musket war period and encountering an influx of European settlement and land speculation. In this context, a civil government (Kāwanatanga) was vital in the hope that civil peace and order would be established, which would allow Māori tribal authority (Rangatiratanga) and possession of land to be maintained into an uncertain future. These, anyway, are my few takeaways from a re-read of these important political (and religious) texts in context. Ngā manaakitanga.

Note that this copy includes the signatures of Waka Nene, Te Huhu, Tona, Panakareao (Nōpera), Kiwikiwi, and Tirarau – leading rangatira who were not present at the original October 1835 hui but added their marks/signatures in the following months. (It does not include the later signatures of Te Wherowhero, Te Hāpuku and others, as it was printed in March 1836; see Books in Māori, no. 28.)

This printed version is one of approximately 400 copies that Henry Williams had printed during the flag-staff war (Northern War) in his efforts to remind chiefs that the British Crown was obligated to protect their properties and their chiefly rights under the treaty. (This version survives in Williams family papers at Auckland Museum; see also Books in Māori, no. 256.)