This declaration was adopted at Waitangi on October 28, 1835. Thirty-five ariki and
rangatira representing iwi and hapu from the far north to the Hauraki Gulf signed the
declaration at that hui. Later, other notable leaders added their signatures; those from
outside the Tai Tokerau included Te Hapuku of Ngati Kahungunu and Potatau Te Wherowhero of
Tainui. The English translation presented here was sent to the Under Secretary of State at
the Colonial Office in London by James Busby, British Resident in New Zealand, on 2nd
November, 1835.
[Maori Text]
1. KO MATOU, ko nga Tino Rangatira o nga iwi o Nu Tireni i raro mai o Hauraki kua oti
nei te huihui i Waitangi i Tokerau i te ra 28 o Oketopa 1835, ka wakaputa i te
Rangatiratanga o to matou wenua a ka meatia ka wakaputaia e matou he Wenua Rangatira, kia
huaina, Ko te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tireni.
2. Ko te Kingitanga ko te mana i te wenua o te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni ka meatia nei
kei nga Tino Rangatira anake i to matou huihuinga, a ka mea hoki e kore e tukua e matou te
wakarite ture ki te tahi hunga ke atu, me te tahi Kawanatanga hoki kia meatia i te wenua o
te wakawakarite ana ki te ritenga o o matou ture e meatia nei matou i to matou huihuinga.
3. Ko matou ko nga tino Rangatira ka mea nei kia kia huihui ki te runanga ki Waitangi a
te Ngahuru i tenei tau i tenei tau ki te wakarite ture kia tika te hokohoko, a ka mea ki
nga tauiwi o runga, kia wakarerea te wawai, kia mahara ai ki te wakaoranga o to matou
wenua, a kia uru ratou ki te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni.
4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o tenei o to matou wakaputanga
nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei kawe atu i to matou aroha nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara mo
matou. A no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga pakeha e noho nei i uta, e rere mai ana
i te hokohoko, koia ka mea ai matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki a matou i to matou
Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to matou Rangatiratanga.
KUA WHAKAAETIA katoatia e matou i tenei ra i te 28 Oketopa, 1835, ki te aroaro o te
Reireneti o te Kingi o Ingarani.
[Translation]
DECLARATION of the INDEPENDENCE of NEW ZEALAND
1. We, the hereditary chiefs and heads of the tribes of the Northern parts of New
Zealand, being assembled at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands on this 28th day of October,
1835, declare the Independence of our country, which is hereby constituted and declared to
be an Independent State, under the designation of the United Tribes of New Zealand.
2. All sovereign power and authority within the territories of the United Tribes of New
Zealand is hereby declared to reside entirely and exclusively in the hereditary chiefs and
heads of tribes in their collective capacity, who also declare that they will not permit
any legislative authority separate from themselves in their collective capacity to exist,
nor any function of government to be exercised within the said territories, unless by
persons appointed by them, and acting under the authority of laws regularly enacted by
them in Congress assembled.
3. The hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes agree to meet in Congress at Waitangi in
the autumn of each year, for the purpose of framing laws for the dispensation of justice,
the preservation of peace and good order, and the regulation of trade; and they cordially
invite the Southern tribes to lay aside their private animosities and to consult the
safety and welfare of our common country, by joining the Confederation of the United
Tribes.
4. They also agree to send a copy of this Declaration to His Majesty the King of
England, to thank him for his acknowledgement of their flag; and in return for the
friendship and protection they have shown, and are prepared to show, to such of his
subjects as have settled in their country, or resorted to its shores for the purposes of
trade, they entreat that he will continue to be the parent of their infant State, and that
he will become its Protector from all attempts upon its independence.
Agreed to unanimously on this 28th day of October, 1835, in the presence of His
Brittanic Majesty's Resident.
{Signatures or signs of 35 chiefs, from North Cape to the Hauraki Gulf}
Witnessed by: (Signed) Henry Williams, Missionary, C.M.S. George Clarke, C.M.S. James
C. Clendon, Merchant Gilbert Mair, Merchant
I certify that the above is a correct copy of the Declaration of the Chiefs, according
to the translation of Missionaries who have resided ten years and upwards in the country;
and it is transmitted to His Most Gracious Majesty the King of England, at the unanimous
request of the chiefs.
(Signed) JAMES BUSBY British Resident of New Zealand
