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The Treaty of Waitangi
'A beautifully crafted and lucidly written book, deservedly a best-seller in New Zealand among general, as well as academic, readers.' Australian Historical Studies
'Claudia Orange has written a fascinating book … Her contribution to improving our understanding of our often-troubled past is one of real importance.' New Zealand Listener
'One of the most important books to be published in New Zealand in recent years.' The Press
G. F. Wattie Book of the Year Award 1988 (1st edition)
Since its publication in 1987, Claudia Orange’s book has become the standard guide to one of the key documents in New Zealand history, selling over 40,000 copies.
The complexities of the Treaty, which have done so much to shape New Zealand history for nearly 200 years, are thoughtfully explored as Orange examines the meanings the document has held for Māori and Pākehā.
A new introduction brings it up to date with all that has happened since, complementing the book’s lucid and well-researched exploration of how and why the Treaty was signed.
'Claudia Orange has written a fascinating book … Her contribution to improving our understanding of our often-troubled past is one of real importance.' New Zealand Listener
'One of the most important books to be published in New Zealand in recent years.' The Press
G. F. Wattie Book of the Year Award 1988 (1st edition)
Since its publication in 1987, Claudia Orange’s book has become the standard guide to one of the key documents in New Zealand history, selling over 40,000 copies.
The complexities of the Treaty, which have done so much to shape New Zealand history for nearly 200 years, are thoughtfully explored as Orange examines the meanings the document has held for Māori and Pākehā.
A new introduction brings it up to date with all that has happened since, complementing the book’s lucid and well-researched exploration of how and why the Treaty was signed.
469 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Claudia Orange
18 books3 followersDame Claudia Josepha Orange DNZM OBE (née Bell, born 17 April 1938) is a New Zealand historian best known for her 1987 book The Treaty of Waitangi, which won 'Book of the Year' at the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Award in 1988.
Since 2013 she has been the head of research at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, where she was previously the director of collections and research. In 2018 she was made a Companion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi in recognition of her service to the humanities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia...
Since 2013 she has been the head of research at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, where she was previously the director of collections and research. In 2018 she was made a Companion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi in recognition of her service to the humanities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 13, 2021
This is an excellent book. It gives a comprehensive, intriguing, yet carefully nuanced account of the Treaty. A very smooth read with the perfect balance of story-telling and historical analysis. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand NZ history.
The last chapter kinda ends abruptly, as if written in a hurry. For a writer who is exploring such a key piece it's a bit of shame... I would have like to see more of Orange's expectations and analysis or even vision for the future..
The last chapter kinda ends abruptly, as if written in a hurry. For a writer who is exploring such a key piece it's a bit of shame... I would have like to see more of Orange's expectations and analysis or even vision for the future..
May 8, 2017
The Treaty of Waitangi is a document of fundamental importance to the founding of New Zealand. Claudia Orange's book from 1987 is a scholarly but straightforward history of events leading up to the signing of the treaty and the general lack of fulfillment of said treaty and the disappointment/loss the Maori people experienced subsequently. The focus is mainly from about 1820-1890 while the final chapter deals with the 20th century up until the time of writing.
Although important the treaty lacked histories or analysis. A point Orange rams home in her preface stating that, at the beginning of her studies into the treaty in 1977 the lack of academics studies was "increasingly annoying", going on to mention only 2 works (one full of errors) and a collection of seminar notes. The lack of works perhaps connects to waxing and waning of the treaty in settler/Pakeha consciousness -- an object of annoyance, when remembered, more often than not. This contrasts greatly with the Maori experience.
So we have in "The Treaty of Waitangi" the tale of a British Empire still great but slowing down. Aware that humanitarian mistakes were made in its colonial pursuits and wary of financial entanglement. A full cast of characters, ranging from missionaries and scalawags to chieftains high and low, is involved in bringing about the need for the treaty. The treaty document exists in 2 forms in 1840: an English version and a woefully translated version in Te Reo (Maori). And there begins the problems.
Those who are interested in studying colonial-indigenous relationships could gain from reading Orange's text. Interestingly, the behaviour of the French in its colonies, particular Tahiti, is raised as a spectre to encourage Maori tribes to sign the treaty. Further, Maori were well aware, from trading with and visiting Sydney, of the damage done to New South Wales Aborigines by British settlement and this fueled arguments against signing and demands that NZ was not to be a penal colony.
However, "The Treaty of Waitangi" is mainly of interest to New Zealanders wanting to get a better grip on their history. No doubt there are more modern treatments but this is a solid readable tome.
Although important the treaty lacked histories or analysis. A point Orange rams home in her preface stating that, at the beginning of her studies into the treaty in 1977 the lack of academics studies was "increasingly annoying", going on to mention only 2 works (one full of errors) and a collection of seminar notes. The lack of works perhaps connects to waxing and waning of the treaty in settler/Pakeha consciousness -- an object of annoyance, when remembered, more often than not. This contrasts greatly with the Maori experience.
So we have in "The Treaty of Waitangi" the tale of a British Empire still great but slowing down. Aware that humanitarian mistakes were made in its colonial pursuits and wary of financial entanglement. A full cast of characters, ranging from missionaries and scalawags to chieftains high and low, is involved in bringing about the need for the treaty. The treaty document exists in 2 forms in 1840: an English version and a woefully translated version in Te Reo (Maori). And there begins the problems.
Those who are interested in studying colonial-indigenous relationships could gain from reading Orange's text. Interestingly, the behaviour of the French in its colonies, particular Tahiti, is raised as a spectre to encourage Maori tribes to sign the treaty. Further, Maori were well aware, from trading with and visiting Sydney, of the damage done to New South Wales Aborigines by British settlement and this fueled arguments against signing and demands that NZ was not to be a penal colony.
However, "The Treaty of Waitangi" is mainly of interest to New Zealanders wanting to get a better grip on their history. No doubt there are more modern treatments but this is a solid readable tome.
January 6, 2020
I had read this book since high school and was a requirement for a couple of my history courses back in my university days.
This book is about the history of the most important document in New Zealand. It started from the first interaction between the Maori people and the British Empire, an empire that was already well stretched out. Then the unnecessary declaration of independence from basically no one. There was no previous foreign ruler nor a single national authority that rule the islands. Then the treaty and the aftermath that followed - from the Land Wars to the Treaty Settlements in our lifetime.
The treaty is not just a founding document, but also a mistranslated and a misunderstood document. It's like a rigged election. People voting for something they thought it was good for them but got the opposite result.
Anyway, this book is perfect for high school and university students, academics and historians who are interested about the history of New Zealand.
This book is about the history of the most important document in New Zealand. It started from the first interaction between the Maori people and the British Empire, an empire that was already well stretched out. Then the unnecessary declaration of independence from basically no one. There was no previous foreign ruler nor a single national authority that rule the islands. Then the treaty and the aftermath that followed - from the Land Wars to the Treaty Settlements in our lifetime.
The treaty is not just a founding document, but also a mistranslated and a misunderstood document. It's like a rigged election. People voting for something they thought it was good for them but got the opposite result.
Anyway, this book is perfect for high school and university students, academics and historians who are interested about the history of New Zealand.
December 17, 2018
The downside of being a foundational text is that readers coming late to you may feel like they've heard it all before. I really looked forward to reading this book, but was surprised by how much of it - both the facts and the viewpoint - was familiar. I did learn some things - notably that the British seriously considered using a terra nullius-style justification for annexing New Zealand before deciding Waitangi was a stronger case for legitimacy - but this felt largely like filling in gaps around the edges.None of which belies the power of the book. The story of Waitangi is a winding one: a treaty in two versions arguably intended more as a pacification than a negotiated agreement, never signed by many of those it is considered binding on. Orange explains this myriad of effects, ambiguities and pathways of meaning clearly, thoroughly and yet at a clip. While originally published in the 1980s, the inclusion of substantial - not token - material on the modern meaning of the treaty and the settlement of old claims makes it a work which both interprets history and considers what it means to contemporary society.
As my country continues to discuss the need for a treaty, there are lessons here aplenty in what does and doesn't work to reconcile differing societies and past injustice. For all its faults, which are many, the existence of the Waitangi treaty has given both Maori and Pakeha a framework to understand some dispossession, and what has been lost. Even the flaws - differing understandings and translations of sovereignty - provide the basis for a conversation about what might be. In this way, this should be better understood well beyond NZ itself.
As my country continues to discuss the need for a treaty, there are lessons here aplenty in what does and doesn't work to reconcile differing societies and past injustice. For all its faults, which are many, the existence of the Waitangi treaty has given both Maori and Pakeha a framework to understand some dispossession, and what has been lost. Even the flaws - differing understandings and translations of sovereignty - provide the basis for a conversation about what might be. In this way, this should be better understood well beyond NZ itself.
April 29, 2020
A deep dive into 'The Treaty Of Waitangi' and all the subtleties around its inception until around 50 years later. Pre-reading this someone told me they had this as a text book at University, so I was a bit nervous that it would be dense and difficult to read as a lot of textbooks disappointingly are. However this book was not like that. It was detailed but remained interesting.
February 28, 2022
I wrote long distance for "Coromandel Life" magazine in NZ, and we often wrote stories relating to this treaty between 500 Maori chiefs and the English. 1840. The scholarship of this book is astounding. The magazine folded as soon as the pandemic hit, and won't be going again. I still cherish this book, and am looking for a good home for it. Perhaps a history teacher at the high school.
October 24, 2021
Very comprehensive and readable book about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, exactly what I was seeking.
May 31, 2024
Thorough historical account. An insightful perception of the treaty and wider yet, our collective identity.
January 30, 2011
Essential.
October 1, 2012
Excellent Book for research, an authoritive author with comprehensive research.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews