Nz Land Wars

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Analyse the causes and effects of the New Zealand Land Wars The New Zealand Land Wars were the longest armed conflict in New Zealand. There were several important factors that caused the New Zealand Wars, including the greed for Colonial power of the British Empire and the misunderstandings of the Treaty of Waitangi by Māori, leading to arguments over sovereignty by both sides on land and resources. The series of military campaigns, known collectively as the New Zealand Wars, resulted in the growth of political, social and land problems. The disputes over the Treaty of Waitangi are an important cause of the New Zealand Wars. The treaty was signed in 1840 between the British Empire and the Māori. The British signed the treaty in hope of setting up a colony, while the Māori signed it for trade and protection from foreign powers other than the British themselves. Both sides believed that they were signing to have sovereignty over the land in New Zealand. The cause for this controversy was the usage of the Māori word 'Kāwanatanga' in the Māori version. The word, meaning 'governorship,' was not a word which was part of the Māori language before contact with Pākehā. The word had been specifically made by changing transliteration of the word 'kāwana,' meaning 'governor', to its verbal form by adding 'tanga.' The Māori word for sovereignty is 'Rangatiratanga,' also meaning chiefly rule. Henry Williams, the translator of the treaty, could not have asked the Māori to sign away their sovereignty, but used the word governorship instead. The Māori believed that the British were providing a form of government for the Māori, while they could still have control of all the lands they held. As a result of this misinterpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori became subject to loss of land due to confiscations years after. An example of arguments over land ownership would be the
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