Story: Kotahitanga – unity movements

Henry Williams

In this segment from a docudrama about the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, missionary Henry Williams is profiled. Williams played an important role in the Māori text of the treaty and in the Declaration of Independence. Because the word 'rangatiratanga' was used to mean 'independence' in the Declaration of Independence in 1835, when 'rangatiratanga' was used in the Treaty of Waitangi, it was interpreted by 19th-century unity movements as referring to independence as well.

Using this item

TVNZ Television New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Basil Keane, 'Kotahitanga – unity movements - The first Kotahitanga movements, 1834 to 1840', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/33580/henry-williams (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 20 Jun 2012