Difference Between the English and Māori Versions of the Treaty of Waitangi: Treaty of Waitangi | Social Studies

Welcome to another post. For Social Studies, we looked at the differences between the English and Māori versions of the Treaty of Waitangi and their differences. We were given a summary of the Treaty and had to find the differences between both versions.

The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
Credit: Painting of the treaty signing by Marcus King, 1938 (Alexander Turnbull Library, G-821-2)
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/the-treaty-of-waitangi-is-signed

Treaty of Waitangi Māori and English Version

The Treaty of Waitangi - shown to British / everyone else	Te Tiriti o Waitangi - shown to Māori (English Translation)
Māori to give up complete sovereignty to Britain. This meant Māori came under complete control of the British government and laws.	Māori to give up governorship (Kāwanatanga). For Māori, this meant Queen Victoria became the sovereign of New Zealand. However, Māori chiefs still had control of their tribes.
Māori is guaranteed their ‘possession of their lands, estates, forests, fisheries, and other properties’.  The British crown has the pre-emptive right to buy Māori land that is offered for sale. That meant Māori could only sell to the British government.	Māori have full chieftainship (rangatiratanga) of their lands, villages and possessions and everything they treasure — language, culture, etc. If Māori wanted to sell their land, they had to first offer it to the British crown at an agreed price. If the British crown did not agree, land could then be sold to someone else.
Māori have the same rights as British subjects.	The British will protect Māori. Māori have the same rights as British subjects.

Differences between the British and Māori translations

In the British (English) version of the Treaty of Waitangi, it is said that Māori will give up complete sovereignty to Britain. However, in the Māori version, it is said that the Māori will only give up sovereignty, not complete sovereignty. Another difference is that in the English version, it is said that Māori is under the complete control of the British government, unlike the Māori version, where Queen Victoria became the sovereign of New Zealand and Māori chiefs still had control of their tribes. Māori thought that they can control their tribes, but they weren’t.

In the Māori version, taonga (treasured possession) and protection of language and culture are included, however, in the English version, it isn’t written. Another difference is that the British has the right to buy Māori land offered in sale, but in the Māori version, the Māori had to first offer it to the British crown, if they want to sell their land, with an agreed price; the land would be sold to someone else then if the British crown did not agree to the price.

In the Māori version of the Treaty, it was told that the British will protect Māori, but in the English version, it wasn’t written in the treaty.

In my opinion, I think the Treaty is different because the British want to be superior over Māori and gain profits out of the Treaty, meaning Māori will get less in return.