Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)

Te Tiriti o Waitangi was a treaty signed in 1840 between the British government and various Maori groups in New Zealand.
The treaty established a British governor with the right to rule the country, but also recognized Maori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave the Maori the rights of all British subjects.
To this day, the Maori look to the Treaty for rights and remedies for land loss and unequal treatment by the state, with little success. These inquiries eventually led to the creation of the Waitangi Tribunal under Treaty of Waitangi Act of 1975. The tribunal is responsible for investigating and making recommendations on clains brought by Maori groups relating to the breach of promises made in the original Treaty.


Te Tiriti o Waitangi is also generally regarded as the founding document of New Zealand  as a nation.