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Te Papa's English Treaty Lie

Te Papa's English Treaty Lie

Why is Te Papa using the Waitangi Tribunal version of the Treaty instead of the legal English version?

On Te Papa's new web page it says "official English version" because it is not the legal English version. It is the Waitangi Tribunal version that was written by Captain Hobson’s secretary James Freeman that is also called "the false treaty". It's unknown why Freeman wrote his own copy instead of getting a copy of the final draft from Hobson but his version was not correct, such as:

  1. It gave Maori preferential rights over Pakeha but in the real Treaty Maori ceded sovereighty and everyone became equal (British subjects).
  2. Freeman's version was never read to, or discussed, by the Maori chiefs. It is not a copy of the final English Treaty of Waitangi or the Maori Tiriti o Waitangi. It is a false Treaty.

COMPARE FOR YOURSELF:

Why has Te Papa used Kawharu’s back-translation and not T.E. Young's undisputed back-translation?

The page goes on to say: "Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu. Kawharu’s version is considered to be a more accurate reflection of the understanding of Māori who signed."

Kawharu's disputed back-translation from English to Maori should not be used because:

  1. Kawharu had conflicts of interest when he did the translation because he was also involved in his tribe's Treaty claims and worked for the Waitangi Tribunal. (Reference: https://nzcpr.com/kawharus-re-written-treaty/) The only undisputed Government approved back-translation is T.E. Young's 1869 version.
  2. The proposed differences in meaning between the Maori and English texts, such as Kawanatanga not meaning sovereignty, had NEVER BEEN disputed for over 100 years before the formation of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 and then by Kawharu's translation.
  3. Historical records of the time undeniably show that that Maori understood what sovereignty meant and debated its meaning before signing. Also, later in 1860, Maori chiefs reaffirmed their understanding of the Queen's sovereignty in a meeting with Governor Thomas Gore Browne in Auckland (Reference: https://onesuninthesky.com).
  4. COMPARE FOR YOURSELF:
    Kawharu's back-translation 1988: https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz/treaty-of-waitangi/translation-of-te-reo-maori-text/
    T.E. Young's back-translation 1869: https://nzmw.nz/tow

Te Papa's English Treaty Lie - Check for yourself on their site: https://tepapa.govt.nz/visit/exhibitions/treaty-waitangi-signs-nation

Share this post so more Kiwis know what is happening and start asking politicians and journalists questions like:

"Why doesn't Te Papa display the legal English version of the Treaty of Waitiangi?"

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