British representatives wrote the Treaty in a hurry, then spent seven months working to get as many rangatira (chiefs) to sign it as possible. But the Treaty meant different things to different people.
Nearby you can find out exactly what the Treaty said, and see why it has caused so much debate – both in 1840 when it was signed and now.
Nā ngā māngai o Ingarangi te Tiriti i tuhi i runga i te horo, kātahi ka oke mō te whitu marama kia hainatia e te tokomaha ka taea o ngā rangatira Māori. Engari he rerekē te tikanga o te Tiriti ki tēnā, ki tēnā.
Kei pātata mai ngā kupu o te Tiriti e whakaatu ana he aha i nui ai ngā tautohetohe i te hainatanga i 1840 – me nāianei.