Friday, November 20, 2009

Treaty House Window (January, 2001)



This picture was taken through the window of the Treaty House at Waitangi, looking out across the lawn towards the beautiful Bay of Islands beyond.

Here, New Zealand's Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. The Treaty is described as New Zealand's "founding document", an agreement between Maori and the British (colonial authority). In spite of its many flaws, the Treaty is a unique document that has been used effectively by Maori in recent decades to fight for, and win, restitution for past wrongdoing by the British/pakeha and for various rights such as the preservation and cultivation of the Maori language (te reo Maori), which was defined as a taonga (treasure) and which must therefore be protected under the Treaty.

Posted by Picasa

No comments:

Post a Comment