Waitangi, 6 February 1840

The Waitangi sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by 43* rangatira (chiefs) on 6 February 1840, at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. Most of those who signed were from Ngāpuhi, but there were also a few from Ngāti Wai, Te Roroa, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson had arrived in the Bay of Islands on HMS Herald on Wednesday 29 January and quickly set to work drafting and translating the treaty. James Busby, the official British Resident, was also present, along with the notable missionary Henry Williams, who came quickly from Waimate North.

Most rangatira arrived on 4 and 5 February. They camped south of the Waitangi River mouth.

The first meeting on 5 February took place under marquees set up in front of Busby’s residence at Waitangi. After some last-minute translations, the meeting began at 11 a.m., and the mood was cheerful. Hobson started by explaining the treaty and read the English text. Williams read the Māori text to the rangatira and explained it as a covenant between Māori and Queen Victoria. He stated that the treaty was an act of love from the queen, and that the missionaries fully approved of it. Busby then spoke about the sensitive issue of land, stating that the Crown would acquire land and return any that had been improperly taken from Māori. Five hours of discussion followed, with one short break to distribute tobacco.

A theme of resentment toward land sales ran through the speeches by the rangatira. Most expressed a preference for the missionaries and a desire to retain their services. In the first articulate speeches, Te Kāmera, Rewa, Moka and Hākiro asked Hobson to leave, and some accused the missionaries present of stealing their land. Five short speeches in favour of the treaty did not have much effect on the mood of the gathering. However, the subsequent speeches of Tāmati Wāka Nene, Eruera Maihi Patuone and Hōne Heke Pōkai in favour of the treaty were hugely influential. Nene stated that it was too late to stop the arrival of Pākehā and so the treaty was a suitable agreement. Patuone agreed with these statements, and then Heke reiterated that the treaty would be a covenant between Māori and the queen.

Despite a notice that the meeting would continue on 7 February, the rangatira decided they would end the treaty business immediately and assembled in front of Busby’s residence on 6 February. Hobson would not allow further discussion as there had been no official notice of this meeting. He only allowed signatures to be written on the Waitangi treaty sheet.

* There is some dispute over this number, see The Signatories