Regan the Elephant
"So, he Whakaputanga was signed in 1835 by Maori Rangatiratanga," lectured Ms Barbara Wright. "In English, what would we call this document?" She peered at her class. "Regan, do you know?"
In the back row, Regan the Elephant looked up. It blinked once then went back to staring at the pretty pictures in her history book.
"It is of course, a Declaration of Independence," continued Ms Wright, inferring that Regan didn't know the answer. "And with this knowledge, what are the implications for our understanding of te Tiriti and the Treaty?"
Barbara Wright was referring to te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi. Two documents signed at the birth of the modern New Zealand. Modern consensus from academics is that the Treaty is an illegitimate document whilst te Tiriti is the valid paper. In te Tiriti, Maori did not sign away their sovereignty. Unfortunately white New Zealand is ignorant of this, and if they did know they would just undermine that document as they don't want their control of the country taken away from them.
"How about this one?" asked Ms Wright. "Regan, do you know? How does this impact how we understand the Treaty?"
Again, Regan didn't answer. She got up and walked outside and played in the sandpit.
Ms Wright sighed. She failed to understand why the headmaster would accept the enrollment of an elephant.
In the back row, Regan the Elephant looked up. It blinked once then went back to staring at the pretty pictures in her history book.
"It is of course, a Declaration of Independence," continued Ms Wright, inferring that Regan didn't know the answer. "And with this knowledge, what are the implications for our understanding of te Tiriti and the Treaty?"
Barbara Wright was referring to te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi. Two documents signed at the birth of the modern New Zealand. Modern consensus from academics is that the Treaty is an illegitimate document whilst te Tiriti is the valid paper. In te Tiriti, Maori did not sign away their sovereignty. Unfortunately white New Zealand is ignorant of this, and if they did know they would just undermine that document as they don't want their control of the country taken away from them.
"How about this one?" asked Ms Wright. "Regan, do you know? How does this impact how we understand the Treaty?"
Again, Regan didn't answer. She got up and walked outside and played in the sandpit.
Ms Wright sighed. She failed to understand why the headmaster would accept the enrollment of an elephant.