The Signing of the Treaty

• At the time of the signing of the Treaty, Māori outnumbered Pākehā settlers by an estimated 40 to one.
• The meeting or hui between Māori and European began on Wednesday 5 February in a large tent, made out of ships' sails, which had been put up on the lawn in front of James Busby's house. The house later became known as the Treaty house.
• Hobson told the group that he had been sent to New Zealand to be its governor, but that this would need to be agreed to by the chiefs. He spoke in English, and then Henry Williams translated his words into Māori.
• Hobson then read out the final draft in English of the Treaty, followed by Henry Williams who read out the Māori translation.
• The Treaty was then debated for the next five hours. The northern chiefs Hone Heke and Tamati Waka Nene favoured signing the Treaty and eventually convinced the other chiefs to follow their lead.
• The talking amongst the Māori continued into the night, and by the next day they had decided to sign the Treaty and return home. A meeting had not been planned for Thursday 6 February, but Hobson agreed that those who wanted to sign the Treaty should, as long as there was no further discussion.
• Prompted by the Catholic Bishop Pompallier, Hobson also agreed that people in New Zealand could follow any religion they chose, including Māori custom. This has been described as the 'Fourth Article' of the Treaty.
• The first Māori to sign was Hone Heke, although three other chiefs signed above his signature later. A total of 43 chiefs signed.
• As each chief signed, Hobson said 'He iwi tahi tātou', which for a long time was translated as 'We are now one people'. Another way of saying it might be "Our people are now together".
• The chiefs were each given two blankets and some tobacco. Hobson was presented with a greenstone mere by the northern chief Patuone.
• After the official signing, the Māori text of the Treaty was taken around Northland to be signed by more Māori, while several copies were sent elsewhere in New Zealand. The English text copy was also signed at the Waikato Heads and at Manukau.
• By the end of 1840 over 500 Māori, including 13 Māori women had signed the Māori text of the Treaty, but some of the more important chiefs did not sign. Some iwi were not given the opportunity to sign because no gatherings were held in their territories.
• Two Ngāi Tahu Chiefs from Akaroa signed the Treaty at Onuku in Banks Peninsula.

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