Te Tiriti o Te Waitangi Essay Plan - Social Studies

In the 1830s England discovered Aotearoa and had begun to send Whalers around the country, in particular, Kororareka which is now known as Russell. However, with no set rules and regulations for whalers, their lawless behavior and free trading among the Maori tribes of New Zealand caused various problems. These problems could’ve been controlled, if not stopped entirely with the help of a treaty.

Lawless Behaviour

State your point 

Lawless behavior is one reason why the Treaty of Waitangi was needed

Why your point matters

Lawless behavior was one of the ways disease spread throughout New Zealand killing hundreds of Maori people. It also caused countless unreasonable acts of violence between crews and the prostitution of young Maori women.

What evidence/facts m I going to use to support my point?

For Example, 

• Kororareka was given the reputation of being a hell hole
• The death rate because of excess violence  
• The rapid spread of diseases 

Sum up your point

The rate of violence, prostitution, and the spread of disease would've been able to be controlled and regulated with the help of a treaty.

Maori Rights and The Missionaries 

State your point

The rights of the Maori people were being violated by European settlers and whalers

Why your points matter

The rights of the Tribes of Aotearoa were being violated by Europeans and were not being acknowledged. 

What evidence/facts am I going to use to support my point?

For example.

• The taking of land from the Maori people
• The kidnapping of members of various tribes
• The senseless killing of various Maori people

Sum up your point

With the help of a treaty, the Europeans and the Maori would've been able to reach an agreement while still protecting the rights of the Maori people.

Musket Wars

What evidence/facts am I going to use to support my point?

• The fact that this caused the death of 20,000 people
• The rapidly changing borders of land ownership.
• The free reign of trading between Europeans and the Maori.

State your point

The musket wars could've been prevented if we had regulation and control over Europeans and Maori tribes

Why your point matters

It matters because the musket wars dramatically changed the population of the Maori people for the worse.

Sum up your point

With a treaty, the trading between the Pakeha whalers and the Maori tribes would've been able to be controlled and regulated. 

Declaration of Independence

Open with your question

But New Zealand already had a Declaration of Independence, so did we really need the Treaty of Waitangi? 

Answer your question

Yes as the Declaration of Independence did not cover the South Island, it was not signed by all the chiefs of Aotearoa and was only designed for trading between the nation of England and the Tribes of Aotearoa.

Evidence

• The number of chiefs who signed the declaration of independence does not equal the same number of chiefs who signed the Treaty of Waitangi 
• The declaration of independence does not include chiefs from the South or Stewart island.

 Sum up your point

The declaration of independence was only the foundation of the Treaty of Waitangi.