Causes and Effects of the New Zealand Wars

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Analyse the causes and effects of the New Zealand Wars The partnership between the Maori and European had various reasons to the cause and effects of the New Zealand Wars. The Treaty and European migration demand for land were few of the major causes to the wars. How these causes affected the New Zealand wars were the Maori losing political power, specific acts of aggression and the decline of Maori population. The Treaty itself had two different versions; the English version and Maori version which caused a misinterpretation between the two versions. In the English text, the Maori version gave the Queen ‘all the rights and powers of sovereignty’ over their land. In the Maori text the Maori leaders gave the Queen ‘Te Kawanatanga katoa’ or the complete government over their land. The misinterpretation was between the words of ‘sovereignty’ and ‘governance’. There was no direct translation for the word ‘sovereignty’ which later caused the conflict in the wars. The translators of the English text used the Maori word ‘Kawanatanga’, a transliteration of the word ‘governance’; which the Maori knew this word from the Bible. Another misinterpretation was the possession of the New Zealand lands. In the English text it was stated that Maori leaders and people; collectively and individually, were guaranteed to ‘exclusive and undisturbed possession of their lands, estates, forests, fisheries and other properties’. Also, with the Maori agreeing to the Crown’s exclusive right to purchase land. Later on, some Maori stated that they understood the Crown to have first option rather than an exclusive right to buy land. In the Maori text, Maori were guaranteed ‘Te rino rangatiratanga’ or the unqualified exercise of their chieftainship over their lands, villages, and all their property and treasures. It was also stated that the Maori agreed to give the Crown the right to
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