New Zealand Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence, printed by the Anglican Mission Press , Paihia (1836)

The Declaration of Independence of New Zealand ( Māori He Wakaputanga O Te Rangatiratanga O Nu Tireni , English Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand ), in the October 28, 1835 Waitangi by Maori chiefs of the northern tribes (iwi) was signed, was the first official written document of the country even before the Treaty of Waitangi .

background

The state of lawlessness in the emerging British settlements in New Zealand, the musket wars of the northern Māori tribes, the aspirations of Charles Philippe Hippolyte de Thierry to become King of New Zealand, and the growing interest of France and the United States in New Zealand eventually led to it there was a growing awareness of Great Britain's greater involvement in securing its influence in New Zealand. James Busby , endowed with the status of a British resident , traveled to New Zealand in 1833 with the order of the Colonial Office to show British presence and, among other things, to attempt to induce the Māori tribes to self- rule .

story

The flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand from 1834

On March 20, 1834, at the invitation of James Busby and in the presence of missionaries, settlers and the commanders of ten British and three American ships, Māori chiefs of the north gathered in Waitangi to select a flag from three drafts that would represent the country in the future . The chosen flag was then hoisted with a 21 gun salute and from then on stood for the alliance of the United Tribes of New Zealand . According to maritime law, the flag was also accepted as the national flag of New Zealand and should be carried by New Zealand ships in the future. Busby had u. a. hoped to be able to unite the tribes under this flag and thus pacify them. But he did not succeed in convincing all the tribes.

Since there was a danger that the eccentric de Thierry in Hokianga Harbor declare an independent state and France, the United Kingdom with the annexation could come Zealand before, gathered Busby in October 1835 was around 30 Maori chiefs in Waitangi and by the missionary Henry Williams in the Sign Declaration of Independence translated into Maori language . Although the chiefs were not involved in drawing up the declaration, 52 of them signed by July 1839. Domestically, this did not change anything, but in foreign policy it was a signal to the French and the United States that New Zealand was no longer available.

The declaration in German translation

New Zealand Declaration of Independence

  1. We, the hereditary chiefs and chiefs of the tribes of the northern parts of New Zealand, who are gathered in Waitangi , in the Bay of Islands, on this 28th day in October 1835, declare the independence of our country, which hereby, under the name of "United Tribes of New Zealand" is constituted and declared to be an independent state.
  2. It is hereby declared that all sovereignty and authority within the territories of the "United Tribes of New Zealand" reside wholly and solely in the collective capacity of the hereditary chiefs and chiefs of the tribes, who also declare that they do not exist apart from their collective capacity Legislative power will permit, nor any executive function of any government in said territory, unless by persons appointed by them acting under the authority of the law ordained by them regularly in their assemblies.
  3. The hereditary chiefs and chiefs of the tribes agree to meet in Waitangi each autumn for a congress for the purpose of drafting laws for the application of law, the maintenance of peace and good order, and the regulation of trade, and they warmly call on the tribes of the South to put aside their private hostilities and, by joining the Alliance of United Tribes, to contribute to the security and well-being of our common land.
  4. They also agree to send a copy of this declaration to His Majesty the King of England to thank him for his confirmation of their flag, in response to the friendship and protection they have given they are prepared to show, those of his subjects who have settled in their country or who have turned to their shores for trade, they petition that he should continue to be the father of their young state and that he should be their protector from all attempts at their independence.

Adopted unanimously on the 28th day of October 1835, in the presence of His Majesty's British resident.

(Here follow the signatures and markings of thirty-four hereditary chiefs and tribal chiefs representing the tribes of New Zealand, from the North Cape to the latitude of the River Thames .)

British witnesses: (signed)

I certify that the above is a correct copy of the declaration of the chiefs, as translated by the missionaries who lived here and north in the country for ten years; and is transmitted to his most gracious majesty, the King of England, at the unanimous request of the chiefs.

(signed) James Busby, UK resident in New Zealand.

literature

  • JMR Owens : New Zealand before Annexation . In: The Oxford History of New Zealand . Oxford University Press , Wellington 1981, ISBN 0-19-558062-1 , pp. 28-53 (English).
  • Edmund Bohan : New Zealand: The Story so far - A short History . HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Ltd. , Auckland 1997, ISBN 1-86950-222-1 (English).

Web links

Wikisource: Declaration of Independence of New Zealand  - Sources and full texts (English)

Remarks

  1. ↑ Note: The figures given in the relevant literature differ. Only 31 signatories can be seen on the original document. There are six additional signatories on the reprint by the Anglican Mission Press . 34 signatories are named in the English translation.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ JW Davidson : Busby, James (1801-1871). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition , 2015, accessed October 28, 2015 .
  2. ↑ United Tribes flag . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , December 5, 2015, accessed March 13, 2016 .
  3. ↑ Malcolm Mulholland : New Zealand Government and Politics . In: Janine Hayward (Ed.): New Zealand Government and Politics . 6th edition. Oxford University Press , Melbourne 2015, ISBN 978-0-19-558525-4 , Chapter: 3.1 The Treaty of Waitangi , pp.  121 (English).