DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE & CONSTITUTION 1835
Above Photo: United Tribes of New Zealand’s flag flying at Waitangi
Below Photo: The HMNZS Canterbury continues the 177th tradition at Waitangi in recognition of the presences of a Sovereign 
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The New Zealand Maori Nation’s Independence and Constitution was initiated in 1820 when the Paramount Chief Hongi Hika of a Northern Maori tribe, met with King George IV of England to discuss matters such as recognition of the Maori Nation, trade and the maintenance of Law and Order of His Majesty’s convicted subjects who were emigrating from the penal colony in Australia. King George IV honored the Paramount chiefs request and consolidated the special relationship between the two nations. However numerous attacks continued to be lodged on Maori trading ships from His Majesty’s Royal Navy and Privateers warships, for the simple reason that the Maori flags were not recognized.
In July 1834, Maori chose a flag, which was confirmed by Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Lord Aberdeen, in December 1834 with HMS Alligator firing a 21-gun-salute at Waitangi, New Zealand to indicate the recognition and protection of a Sovereign by His Majesty King William IV of England.
On 28 October 1835, the Declaration of Independence of ‘Ko te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tireni’ ‘the UNITED TRIBES OF NEW ZEALAND’" was declared as the Constitution for the Sovereign Maori State of New Zealand recognized by His Majesty King William IV of England. At midday on Monday 6, February 2017, HMNZS Canterbury fired a 21-gun salute at Waitangi to observe the 177th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between Queen Victoria of England and the Sovereign Maori State of New Zealand. |
The Royal New Zealand Navy continues its traditional involvement and support in Waitangi Day activities in the Bay of Islands this year. The Navy is invited annually by the Maori people of Tai Tokerau to attend Waitangi Day activities, and plays a significant part in the commemorative ceremonies.
The RNZN representatives this year will be Rear Admiral John Martin ONZM, the Chief of Navy, and his Deputy, Commodore Dave Gibbs.
The RNZN representatives this year will be Rear Admiral John Martin ONZM, the Chief of Navy, and his Deputy, Commodore Dave Gibbs.
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Declaration of Independence 1835
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He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni
1. Ko matou ko nga Tino Rangatira o nga iwi o Nu Tireni i raro mai o Hauraki kua oti nei te huihui i Waitangi i Tokerau 28 o Oketopa 1835. ka wakaputa i te Rangatiratanga o to matou wenua a ka meatia ka wakaputaia e matou he Wenua Rangatira. kia huaina ‘Ko te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tireni’.
2. Ko te Kingitanga ko te mana i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni ka meatia nei kei nga Tino Rangatira anake i to matou huihuinga. a ka mea hoki e kore e tukua e matou te wakarite ture ki te tahi hunga ke atu, me te tahi Kawanatanga hoki kia meatia i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni. ko nga tangata anake e meatia nei e matou e wakarite ana ki te ritenga o o matou ture e meatia nei e matou i to matou huihuinga.
3. Ko matou ko nga Tino Rangatira ke mea nei kia huihui ki te runanga ki Waitangi a te Ngahuru i tenei tau i tenei tau ki te wakarite ture kia tika ai te wakawakanga kia mau pu te rongo kia mutu te he kia tika te hokohoko. a ka mea hoki ki nga Tauiwi o runga kia wakarerea te wawai. kia mahara ai ki te wakaoranga o to matou wenua. a kia uru ratou ki te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni.
4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o tenei o to matou wakaputanga nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei kawe atu i to matou aroha. nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara mo matou. a no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga pakeha e noho nei i uta e rere mai ana ki te hokohoko, koia ka mea ai matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki a matou i to matou Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to matou Rangatiratanga.
Kua wakaetia katoatia e matou i tenei ra i te 28 o opketopa 1835 ki te aroaro o te Reireneti o te Kingi o Ingarani.
Closest English interpretation of the Declaration of Independence
2. Ko te Kingitanga ko te mana i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni ka meatia nei kei nga Tino Rangatira anake i to matou huihuinga. a ka mea hoki e kore e tukua e matou te wakarite ture ki te tahi hunga ke atu, me te tahi Kawanatanga hoki kia meatia i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni. ko nga tangata anake e meatia nei e matou e wakarite ana ki te ritenga o o matou ture e meatia nei e matou i to matou huihuinga.
3. Ko matou ko nga Tino Rangatira ke mea nei kia huihui ki te runanga ki Waitangi a te Ngahuru i tenei tau i tenei tau ki te wakarite ture kia tika ai te wakawakanga kia mau pu te rongo kia mutu te he kia tika te hokohoko. a ka mea hoki ki nga Tauiwi o runga kia wakarerea te wawai. kia mahara ai ki te wakaoranga o to matou wenua. a kia uru ratou ki te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni.
4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o tenei o to matou wakaputanga nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei kawe atu i to matou aroha. nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara mo matou. a no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga pakeha e noho nei i uta e rere mai ana ki te hokohoko, koia ka mea ai matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki a matou i to matou Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to matou Rangatiratanga.
Kua wakaetia katoatia e matou i tenei ra i te 28 o opketopa 1835 ki te aroaro o te Reireneti o te Kingi o Ingarani.
Closest English interpretation of the Declaration of Independence
- Article 1, the ‘hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes of the Northern parts of New Zealand’ declared the ‘Independence of our country’, to be an independent state ‘under the designation of The United Tribes of New Zealand’.
- Article 2, the chiefs declared that ‘All sovereign power and authority’ within this independent state resides ‘entirely and exclusively’ with us ‘in their collective capacity’. They also declared that they would not permit any other legislative authority to exist within the new state, nor would they permit any ‘function of government’ to be exercised, except by people who they appointed and who acted under the authority of laws made by them.
- Article 3, they agreed that they would meet ‘in Congress’ at Waitangi, to frame laws ‘for the dispensation of justice, the preservation of peace and good order, and the regulation of trade’. They invited the ‘Southern Tribes’ to ‘lay aside their private animosities’ and join them in this lawmaking confederation, for the sake of protecting their new state.
- Article 4, the chiefs requested that a copy of the Declaration be sent to King William IV, along with a message thanking him for his acknowledgement of their flag, and asking that – in return for protection of British subjects in New Zealand – he ‘continue to be the parent of their infant State’ and ‘become its Protector from all attempts upon its independence’.