# Treaty of Waitangi

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The Treaty of Waitangi was written on nine separate sheets. Eight of the sheets, including the first (known as the Waitangi sheet), were written in the Māori language. The Waikato-Manukau sheet was the only sheet written in English. Signed by 39 of the over 500 non-British signatories, its text is found below. See Te Tiriti o Waitangi for the text of the Waitangi sheet.
​Her Majesty Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland regarding with Her Royal Favor 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 authorized to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those 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 authorize 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 seperate 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 Forests Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Preemption 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.
William 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 Seperate 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.
    Ko te tohu o Paengahuru Ngatitipa
    Ko te tohu o Kiwi Ngarau Ngatitahinga
    Ko te tohu o te Paki Ngatingau
    Ko te tohu o Ngapaka Ngatitipa
    Ko te tohu o Kukutai Ngatitipa
    Ko te tohu o te Ngoki (Ngatimaniapoto kawia)
    Ko te tohu o Muriwenua Ngatihaua Aotea
    Ko te tohu o te Pakaru (Ngatimaniapoto Kawia)
    Ko te tohu o Waraki Ngatimaniapoto Kawia
    Ko te tohu o Kiwi (te Roto) (Ngatimahuta Kawia)
    Ko te tohu o te Paerata (Ngatipou)
    Ko te tohu o te Katipa (Ngatipou)
    Ko te tohu o Maikuku Ngatiteata
    Ko te tohu o Aperahama Ngakainga Ngatiteata
    Ko te tohu o Hoana Riutoto (Ngatimahuta)
    Ko te tohu o te Wairakau (Ngatiteata)
    Ko te tohu o Haki (Aotea Ngatitewehi)
    Ko te tohu o Wiremu Te awaitaia (Wangaroa Ngatimahanga)
    Ko te tohu o Tunui Ngawaka (Ngatitahinga Waikato)
    Ko te tohu o Kemura Wareroa
    Ko te tohu o Pohepohe (Ngatihaua Matamata)
    Ko te tohu o Pokawa Rawhirawhi
    Ko te tohu o te Puata (Ngatiruru Otawhao)
    Ko te tohu o te Mokorou
    Ko te tohu o Pungarehu (Ngatiapakura Parawera)
    Ko te tohu o Taipari$^{Tupaea}$(Ngatiapakura Parawera)
    Ko te tohu o Pohotukia
          Ko te tohu o te Keha (Ngatinaho te Horo)
          Ko te tohu o te Warepu (Ngatihine Taupiri)
          Ko te tohu o te Kanawa (Ngatihine Taupiri)
          Ko te tohu o te Whata o Ngatitipu Wangaroa
          Ko te tohu o Ngawaka (te Ao) (Ngatiwhauroa Putataka)
          Ko te tohu o Peehi (Otawa Ngatiruru)
          The preceding names have been obtained by us at this station and embrace as we conceive with the exception of two the names of the principal men of Waikato
          April 11, 1840 Waikato Heads
          R Maunsell
          B. Ashwell
       Ko te tohu o Wiremu Ngawaro }(Ngatetiati)
       Ko te tohu o Hone Kingi
       Ko te ta Wha
       Ko te tohu o Tamati
       Ko te tohu o Rabata Waiti
       Ko te tohu o Te Awarahi
       Ko te tohu o Rehurehu
       Signed before me April 26th 1840
       William C Symonds
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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