Geoff Parker: He Whakaputanga / The 1835 Declaration of Independence.....

He Whakaputanga / The 1835 Declaration of Independence: A Brief, Fragile Experiment Now Politically Repurposed

In recent times, Māori-supremacy activists and sympathetic academics have attempted to revive the 1835 Declaration of Independence (He Whakaputanga) as a constitutional foundation for modern tribal authority in New Zealand. This campaign insists that the Declaration was “authorised” by Britain and remains legally relevant today. In reality, the Declaration was not authorised — but merely acknowledged or recognised — and even at the time carried no meaningful sovereign authority.

Peter Williams: UPDATE: A Book of Waitangi

My copy of Understanding Te Tiriti: a handbook of basic facts about Te Tiriti o Waitangi arrived by post today. This is the booklet, written by lawyer Roimata Smail, which has been distributed to every secondary school in the country.

My initial response was that if this is the level of textbook and reference source that high school students are provided with these days then heaven help our future. It is barely 30 pages, is comprised of simplistic language and unsupported claims and is the kind of pamphlet that might be appropriate for children at the oldest in years 7 and 8, the intermediate school level.