maori signed the treaty of waitangi on behalf of the crown.
who signed the treaty of waitangi on behalf of the crown?
maori
the treaty of waitangi was an agreement signed between māori tribes and representatives of the british crown in 1840. because of the relationship between māori and the crown, the treaty of waitangi is often cited as a constitutional issue for a new zealand republic. some academics expressed concern that governments could use republicanism to evade treaty responsibilities. however, with the division of the crown between the united kingdom and new zealand following the passing of the statute of westminster adoption act 1947, the "crown in right of new zealand" became party to the treaty. legal academics state that the treaty would be unaffected by new zealand becoming a republic, as the new head of state would inherit the crown's responsibilities. in 2004, professor noel cox argued "in strict legal terms, if new zealand became a republic tomorrow it would make no difference to the treaty of waitangi. speaking as a lawyer, it's a long-established principle that successive governments take on responsibility for previous agreements."
republicanism in new zealand
the treaty was written at a time when british colonists and the new zealand company acting on behalf of large numbers of them were pressuring the crown to establish a colony in new zealand, and when some māori leaders had petitioned the british for protection against french forces. it was drafted with the intention of establishing a british governor of new zealand, recognising māori ownership of their lands, forests and other possessions, and giving māori the rights of british subjects. it was intended to ensure that when the declaration of british sovereignty over new zealand was made by lieutenant governor william hobson in may 1840, the māori people would not feel that their rights had been ignored. once it had been written and translated, it was first signed by northern māori leaders at waitangi. copies were subsequently taken around new zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed. around 530 to 540 māori, at least 13 of them women, signed the treaty of waitangi, despite some māori leaders cautioning against it. an immediate result of the treaty was that queen victoria's government gained the sole right to purchase land. in total there are nine signed copies of the treaty of waitangi including the sheet signed on 6 february 1840 at waitangi.
treaty of waitangi