Story: Te reo Māori – the Māori language

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence – He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene – was signed at Waitangi in 1835 by the United Tribes, a group of northern chiefs, asserting their sovereignty over New Zealand. This document, along with the Treaty of Waitangi, biblical translations and land deeds, is one of the earliest examples of written Māori.

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How to cite this page:

Rawinia Higgins and Basil Keane, 'Te reo Māori – the Māori language - Pākehā engagement with te reo, 1769 to 1840s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/41070/declaration-of-independence (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Rawinia Higgins and Basil Keane, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Sep 2015