Te Tiriti of Waitangi | Treaty of Waitangi, was first signed in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840. Over the following months a further eight Treaty sheets were signed in various locations around Aotearoa. One of those places was Tauranga. This bilingual children’s picture book tells the entire story of the Treaty in Tauranga from the 1828 Ōtamataha Pā massacre, through to the 1987 Tauranga Town Hall Occupation and the 2016 Crown apology. The book includes an extensive Tauranga Moana timeline spanning c. 925 to 2017. See separate page for more information on the Tauranga Treaty Signatories.
- Author: Debbie McCauley
- Illustrator: Whare Joseph Thompson
- Translator: nā Tamati Waaka i whakamāori
- Designer: Sarah Elworthy
- Publisher: Mauao Publishing (Tauranga, New Zealand)
- First Published: 10 April 2018
- ISBN: 9780473412142
- RRP: $39.95
- Acknowledgement: The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Creative New Zealand’s Creative Community Scheme.
The story of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Tauranga is a fascinating one, told for the first time in this bilingual picture book. The document arrived in Tauranga after many years of violence and bloodshed had decimated the local population. Just days before the Treaty’s arrival, a Tauranga chief was tricked into attending peace talks before being murdered and eaten.
Not all the chiefs of Tauranga Moana signed the Treaty; those who did not wanted to govern themselves, those who did were looking for protection against their enemies. However, just two years after the signings, three Tauranga Treaty signatories were murdered and eaten in what was one of the last cannibal feasts near Tauranga.
This book has involved over three years of research and countless rewrites. It would not have been possible without the support of my whānau and encouragement from my wonderful book designer, Sarah Elworthy, as well as assistance from the following people: Diane Adolph (proofreading); Shane Ashby (Mauao Trust chairman); Trish Ball (Auckland Catholic Diocesan Archives); Awanuiārangi Black (1968-2016); Patricia Brooks (author and researcher); Rangi Butler (Ngāi Te Hapū); Graham Cameron (Doctoral Student, University of Otago); Antoine Coffin (Tauranga cultural advisor); Louise Collinson (proofreading), Jared Davidson (Archives New Zealand); Carlo Ellis (Takawaenga Māori Unit); Dean Flavell (Tauranga Heritage Collection); Ivana Frlan (Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections, University of Birmingham); Debbie Gale (Hocken Library); Andrew Gregg (The Elms, Tauranga); Penny Guy (Tauranga City Library); Puhirake Ihaka (Chairperson, Tauranga Moana Tangata Whenua Collective); Bernie Johnson (Tauranga City Library); Fiona Kean (Tauranga Heritage Collection); Martin Killeen (Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections, University of Birmingham); Peri Kohu (Ngāi Tamarāwaho kaumātua); Tame McCausland (Waitaha kaumātua); Buddy Mikaere (former Director of the Waitangi Tribunal); Jessica Mill (Tauranga City Library, Māori pronunciation); Mererina Murray (Takawaenga Māori Unit); Patrick Nicholas (author and researcher); Dame Claudia Orange (author of The Treaty of Waitangi, 1987); Keren Paekau (Takawaenga Māori Unit); Nepia Ranapia (Korowai Kahui o Te Patuwai Tribal Council); Lt. Col. Cliff Simons (Director of the New Zealand Wars Study Centre, NZ Defence Force); Mary Skarott (Alexander Turnbull Library); Des Tata (Ngāi Tamarāwaho kaumātua); Whare Joseph Thompson (illustrator), Barbara Turner (proofreading); Tamati Waaka (translator) and Rangituaia Walker (Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Tauranga).
He Tohu:
During the research process, Debbie was contacted by Treaty researcher and writer Claudia Orange, with the result that she shared her research for the ‘He Tohu’ exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand. He Tohu is an exhibition exploring the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand via He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand, 1835), Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi, 1840) and Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine (Women’s Suffrage Petition, 1893).
Debbie is a fifth-generation New Zealander whose earliest ancestor arrived in Aotearoa on board the ‘Tyne’ in 1841, the year following the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi). She was able to visit He Tohu during a visit to Wellington in 2019 for the New Zealand Children and Young Adults Book Awards. “It was remarkable to see all the documents housed together in their beautiful conservation space,” says Debbie. “They are truly unique to our country and I love how they are looked after, safely presented and accessible to us all.”
Book Reviews:
The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga -Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Tauranga Moana is a thoroughly researched much needed addition to local and national knowledge about the Treaty of Waitangi. Indeed, there would not be many New Zealanders who could even say that they know the information regarding the signing of the Treaty by chiefs of the Tauranga Moana, much less the conflict and drama surrounding it. From a teaching point of view, the book written in both Maori and English can be used on so many levels. There is the actual story of the signing, a story of injustice, murder, conflict, cannibalism and the eventual settlement and honouring of the treaty written in an exciting and easily readable style for younger students while the supporting documents and images are perfect for older students. It is hard to imagine any school or teacher who would not find this an essential teaching resource. The clever layout and design work by award winning designer Sarah Elworthy, portrays information in a wide range of styles including: maps, journal entries, timelines, lists of the treaty signatories and historical photos balanced alongside the actual story which is illustrated with clever sketches by Whare Thompson. The book is visually exciting and packed with information. – Angie Belcher (writer and full-time drama teacher, via Goodreads, 20 February 2018).
Debbie McCauley’s portrayal of historical events in both The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga: Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Tauranga and Taratoa and the Code of Conduct: A Story from the Battle of Gate Pā (2014) have changed the way I select historical stories for my students.
With her prolific writing, depth of research and her ability to capture historical times and events, Debbie McCauley’s books are once again making the learning of history an exciting and stimulating way to delve into our New Zealand history.
Angie Belcher (writer and full-time drama teacher, via Goodreads, 20 February 2018).
Like the other two books, McCauley’s is richly illustrated with a mixture of photographs, maps and taonga related to the people written about. At the back of the book, the signatories at Tauranga are listed and identified by the tohu they left on the parchment. Each signatory has had a biography written about them and I can’t help but think what a huge taonga this is for their descendants. The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga has included educational resources for teachers to use with their students to further extrapolate the kōrero therein. – Matariki Williams (The Sapling, 27 February 2018).
Really well-written and illustrated book on The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga, just published, written by Tauranga author Debbie McCauley and illustrated by Whare Thompson. – Papamoa, New Zealand (Facebook, 2 February 2018).
The book is far more than a list of dates. It provides textual content, photographs, and illustrations to a variety of historical developments… This well researched, bilingual, illustrated book is a forward leap in understanding, appreciation of local history. It covers events that often have been overlooked, under reported or surreptitiously ignored. A glossary and index complete the work of a fine Librarian. – Lee Switzer (ARTbop, 7 April 2018).
It is not easy to pack two centuries of history into 48 pages, especially when they include events like Gate pa, but Debbie McCauley has done well. Not only has she written a simple bi-lingual narrative history (Maori translation by Tamati Waaka) but she has also provided a rich historical context with time-lines, fact-boxes, diary entries and brief biographies that bring history to life. I like the way that we meet individuals and see how their attitudes were formed, so that the complexities of tribal allegiances, warfare and land negotiations become more comprehensible. Issues are carried right up to the present day. The index is excellent, and Whare Thompson’s pencil drawings add life to the pages. It is important to point out that this interesting book will not only be useful in the Tauranga area but will also be a superb exemplar for students of our history in all parts of Aotearoa New Zealand. My hope is that it will inspire young historians to start researching the finer details of what happened in their own region. This book has a great future. – Trevor Agnew (Agnew Reading, 21 April 2018).
The text is broken into brief sections, presented in both English and te reo, in a column on the right of each double page spread. Illustrations accompany each segment of the story. While the topic may be considered too detailed for young children to understand (and still proving so for many adults!) this story is a simple introduction… Each double page spread is dense with accompanying detail, which makes this into much more than a children’s picture book for primary school use. Presented in colour and boxed text on sepia-coloured pages with torn edges to look similar to old Treaty documents, this is no dry history book. It will become an important resource for older children and adults and for all interested in early Tauranga history. School libraries and classrooms, both primary and secondary, local libraries and family homes will all benefit from its inclusion on their bookshelves. – Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt, 12 November 2018).
Author Debbie McCauley has once again produced a fantastic book that will be a taonga (treasure) to readers. Her dedication to research is evident, and the book functions on many different levels. It is a picture book, a simple story, a history textbook, an archive document, and a biography. It is richly illustrated with photographs, sketches, maps, and archive documents which all relate to the people written about. As with her previous books (Eliza and the White Camellia, Ko Mauao te Maunga) the book is bilingual. Just like Eliza and the White Camellia, The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga features a double page spread. The right-hand column features a simplified bilingual story, aimed at younger readers. The left-hand side of the book is a history lesson, rich in further reading, timelines, maps, and explanations. The full text of the Treaty is featured in both Māori and modern English towards the end of the book, as is a brief biography of every Tauranga treaty signatory. These pages make the book an absolute taonga for the descendants of those that signed the Treaty in Tauranga. Each signatory’s mark is documented, as well as their iwi and hapū, as well as the brief biography. McCauley has also done the same for the British witnesses to the signings – James Stack and Henry Taylor. A Tauranga Moana timeline is included that covers a huge range of events for the local area – from the arrival of the Ararauta waka in Tauranga, through the musket wars, New Zealand wars, and into the Treaty of Waitangi settlements of 2017. A glossary and extensive index are also included within the picture book, making it invaluable for research use. McCauley has also included ideas to help extend the reader, including researching their own whakapapa to making a quill. – Rebekah Fraser (NZ Booklovers, 24 March 2019).
Mauao Publishing has developed a real reputation for these fascinating in-depth stories of our history. Once again, The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga holds up this reputation. It is an absolute treasure that demands numerous readings. McCauley sets the standard high for any region hoping to tell their own story. While aimed at telling the story of Tauranga specifically, anyone with an interest in the history of Aotearoa will cherish this book.
Rebekah Fraser (NZ Booklovers, 24 March 2019).
Contents:
Ōtamataha Pā massacre and Herald visit • Treaty of Waitangi • Te Papa Mission Station • Murder of chief Pōnui • Tauranga Treaty (Sheet 5) • Nuka Taipari and Maungatapu Pā • Hōri Tūpaea and Ōtūmoetai Pā • Missionary James Stack • Sack of Ōngare Pā • Peace Treaty • Golden Age of Māori enterprise • New Zealand Wars • Tauranga Treaty of Waitangi settlements • Text of the Tauranga Treaty • Tauranga Treaty signatories • Tauranga Treaty witnesses • Tauranga Moana timeline (early history, Musket Wars, New Zealand Wars, Treaty of Waitangi settlements) • Glossary • Treaty activities • Index • Acknowledgements and picture credits.
Book Launch:
The Elms Te Papa Tauranga was the obvious choice for the launch of The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga: Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Tauranga Moana with kaumātua and guests being welcomed onto the site by Elms manager Andrew Gregg. The date of 10 April 2018 was also significant, being 178 years since one of the nine Treaty of Waitangi sheets was signed in Tauranga Moana. There seem likely to have been two signing dates in Tauranga, but this date is verified via an entry by missionary Alfred Brown in his journal.
The book was blessed and dignitaries shared their histories and spoke about matters close to their hearts. Speakers included kaumātua Puhirake Ihaka, Peri Kohu, Buddy Mikaere and Des Tata who have all supported Debbie’s work. “I am so very lucky to be supported and surrounded by an abundance of knowledge and aroha when I work,” say’s Debbie.
Debbie wrote a play for the book launch and children from the Rumaki unit at Brookfield School re-enacted the signing of the Tauranga sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi. Narrated by Hineata Palmer, the children were Viika-Jo Elvin, Kirihaehae Tukaokao-Seymour, Jakob Pearson, Taiawatea Matika, Hinewairua MacDonald and Herepete Bidois who were all warriors; also Tupuarangi Pearson as missionary James Stack who witnessed the signatures, and Tiana-Lee Ringi-Tata acting the part of a British sailor.
“The Treaty carried with it the promise of protection and justice under British law,” says Debbie. “Little wonder it caught the attention of local Māori who had been so decimated by the Musket Wars.”
Contributor Biographies:
DEBBIE McCAULEY is a librarian, author, and owner of indie business Mauao Publishing. Her book Mōtītī Blue and the Oil Spill: A story from the Rena Disaster won the Best Non-Fiction category in the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and along with Taratoa and the Code of Conduct: A story from the Battle of Gate Pā, was a finalist in the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards. Mōtītī Blue was also selected as a White Raven, one of 200 outstanding children’s books published around the world in 2014, and by the NZ Blind Foundation to be produced in braille, large print and e-text. Debbie is passionate about writing stories from our own backyard for children in a bilingual, narrative non-fiction format. She has also had magazine articles, essays and poetry published.
TAMATI WAAKA (Ngāti Pūkeko, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Tūhoe) is a native speaker of Te Reo Māori and a certified interpreter and translator with an extensive background in Māori radio, television and kapa haka. He began writing children’s stories in Māori in 2007 and recently had a short novel published via the Ministry of Education. Tamati is also involved with Te Reo Wainene o Tua, an entity that actively participates in the revival of Māori storytelling techniques.
WHARE JOSEPH THOMPSON (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi) is a master carver. In 1995 he successfully completed a four year diploma in Māori Art and Design, graduating from Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua. Whare has worked alongside a wide range of contemporary Māori artists who share the same aspirations to express their culture and issues through art, using a variety of media. He has exhibited with other artists and has also completed public artworks for regional councils and hospitals. Many of his carvings can be found throughout Tauranga Moana.
Media:
- ARTbop. (2018, April 7). From Treaty to Mistrust to Treaty by Lee Switzer.
- ARTbop. (2020, June 7). The Sunday Series: Debbie McCauley by Rosemary Balu.
- Bay of Plenty Times. (2017, December 26). Local librarian’s book about Tauranga’s role in signing of Treaty of Waitangi.
- SunLive. (2015, October 26). Debbie’s wonderful world of books by Hunter Wells.
- SunLive. (2018, February 2). New book on the Treaty in Tauranga by Ryan Wood.
- SunLive. (2018, April 10). Signing the treaty 178 years ago by Rosalie Liddle Crawford.
© Debbie Joy McCauley (2018) | All Rights Reserved | Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Debbie McCauley and https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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