The Truth About The Declaration of Independence 1835

The Truth About The Declaration Of Independence, 1835 (Otherwise known as He Whakaputanga) By Julian Batchelor M.ED (Hons), B.Th, Dip.T’ching www.stopcogovernance.kiwi Background to the Declaration: In the early 1800’s Europeans began arriving in New Zealand in numbers – explorers, whalers and adventurers – many lawless types amongst them. Many Maori-European interactions benefited both but, unsurprisingly, there were some misunderstandings followed by savage reprisals. At Whangaroa in 1810, all but four of the 70 aboard the Boyd were killed and eaten (right). Tragically, reprisals by English whalers led to the death of the innocent chief Te Pahi, not the culprit, Te Puhi. In 1772, Ngati Pou had killed and eaten French explorer, Marion du Fresne, and 26 of his crew who had apparently broken a tapu. In subsequent encounters, about 250 warriors were killed; most of them when about 1,500 tribesmen attacked a vastly outnumbered French force defending its hospital camp on Moturoa Island. French appearances in New Zealand waters were of concern to British and Maoris alike. The British in New South Wales (the name for Australia back then) feared their colonial intentions. Missionaries and Maori converts alike feared the spread of Roman Catholicism. Maoris knew that the French had not forgotten the Marion du Fresne (left) affair – they still referred to the French as “the tribe of Marion”. The Secretary of the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand, William Yate, and Ngapuhi chiefs Rawiri Taiwhanga and Rewa in particular were anxious to have a more formal British presence in New Zealand. Yate and Rewa wrote a letter to this effect in both Maori and English versions. It was signed by thirteen Ngapuhi chiefs and sent to King William IV of Britain on 16th November 1831. This letter was received coolly in Britain. The British were reluctant to increase their involvement in New Zealand, as British parliamentary papers of the time show clearly. For one thing, they needed plenty of effort to put into their Australian colonies (Victoria, 1834, and South Australia, 1836). The generally warlike behaviour of the Maoris also dissuaded them. However, the Yate/Rewa letter, along with continuing pleas by missionaries and others, induced British Colonial Secretary, Lord Goderich, to appoint James Busby as British Resident in the Bay of Islands 1833. (Right) With little authority and no means of enforcing it, Busby was in a ludicrous position. However, he did make some efforts. For instance, Maori ships (purchased from the British using money from land sales) trading to New South Wales didn’t have a flag by which they could be recognised. In 1831