The Treaty of Waitangi between the British and the native Maori is usually seen as the founding event of New Zealand. But figuring out exactly what the treaty said isn’t easy. It’s written in both English and Maori, and both versions say somewhat different things.
As you can see from the world’s longest and most complicated historical plaque, life after the treaty wasn’t always smooth sailing. The Maoris have won reparations for perceived British violations of the treaty. But the incredibly positive result is modern New Zealand itself, officially recognized as a nation of two cultures, and two languages. Where else in the developed world do indigenous people have such an important, official role in society?
