PREAMBLE
Her Majesty, Victoria, Queen of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, regarding with Her
Royal Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand,
and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property, and
to secure to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order,
has deemed it necessary, in consequence of the great number
of Her Majesty's Subjects who have already settled in New
Zealand, and the rapid extension of Emigration both from
Europe and Australia which is still in progress, to constitute
and appoint a functionary properly authorised to treat with
the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her
Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or any part
of these islands. Her Majesty therefore being desirous to
establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view
to avert the evil consequences which must result from the
absence of the necessary Laws and Institutions alike to
the native population and to Her subjects has been graciously
pleased to empower and to authorise me William Hobson, a
Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Consul, and Lieutenant-Governor
of such parts of New Zealand as may be or hereafter shall
be ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederated and
independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following
Articles and Conditions.
ARTICLE THE FIRST
The chiefs of the Confederation of the
United Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent
Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation,
cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England, absolutely and
without reservation, all the rights and powers of Sovereignty
which the said Confederation or Individual Chiefs respectively
exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to
possess over their respective Territories as the sole Sovereigns
thereof.
ARTICLE THE SECOND
Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms
and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and
to the respective families and individuals thereof, the
full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands
and Estates, Forest, Fisheries, and other properties which
they may collectively or individually possess, so long as
it is their wish and desire to maintain the same in their
possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the
Individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right
of Pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof
may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed
upon between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed
by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.
ARTICLE THE THIRD
In consideration thereof, Her Majesty
the Queen of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand
Her royal protection and imparts to them all the Rights
and Privileges of British Subjects.
W Hobson, Lieutenant-Governor
Now therefore, We the Chiefs of the Confederation
of the United Tribes of New Zealand being assembled in Congress
at Victoria, in Waitangi and We the Separate and Independent
Chiefs of New Zealand claiming authority over the Tribes
and Territories which are specified after our respective
names, having been made fully to understand the Provisions
of the foregoing Treaty, accept and enter into the same
in the full spirit and meaning thereof in witness of which,
we have attached our signatures or marks at the places and
the dates respectively specified.
Done at Waitangi, this Sixth day of
February in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and forty.
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