Week 4 - Missionaries/Treaty of Waitangi

I never really knew what missionaries were or what they did. I have learnt that they have made an incredible impact in the civilisation of Maori society. Their main two goals were to convert Maori from heathenism to Christianity, and make them more advanced in colonisation. Their fight for peace among Maori and Pakeha gained respect and mana in the eyes of the Maori people.

Missionaries opened schools that were taught in Maori language, even though the subjects were heavily European. Maori people were eager to learn how to write because it was familiar, due to it basically being an advanced symbolling system to carving. The Pakeha God was also more appealing because His followers seemed to have more wealth than the Maori.

Missionaries were concerned about the conduct of the European settlers, but helped a lot to keep the peace between both cultures. They were easily the “cutting edge of colonisation” – Walker, pp.85.

After Class Reflection:

The mistranslation of the Treaty of Waitangi is something that I found interesting from this weeks’ lecture. Both cultures signed the document believing it was for slightly different agreements. Particularly in the first article, the use of ‘sovereignty’ in the English version, and ‘governance’ in the Maori version. Although these words only have some minor variables, the Maori thought they were holding onto their land and goods and had protection from the Queen, whereas the European version states that the Queen has authority over Maori land. Incorrect translations such as these lead to further progressive complications between Maori and Pakeha during the 1800’s.

Works Cited:

Walker, Ranginui. "Coming of the Pakeha." Tauiwi, 1990.

New Zealand History. "Read the Treaty." New Zealand History, 20 Dec 2012, https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/treaty/read-the-Treaty/differences-between-the-texts