Aotearoa Before the Treaty of Waitangi

Understanding New Zealand's history before 1840 Māori society and European arrival Setting the scene for the Treaty

Māori Society: Iwi and Hapū

Iwi were large tribal groups with shared ancestors Hapū were smaller family groups within iwi Each group had their own territory (rohe) Strong connections to land and whakapapa (genealogy) Chiefs (rangatira) led communities

Māori Way of Life

{"left":"Fishing, hunting, and gathering food\nGrowing kumara, taro, and other crops\nBuilding wharenui (meeting houses)","right":"Carving, weaving, and storytelling\nTrading between different iwi\nProtecting their land and resources"}

Think About This...

What do you think happened when Europeans first arrived in New Zealand? How might Māori have felt about these new visitors? What challenges might both groups have faced?

Early European Arrivals

Captain James Cook arrived in 1769 Whalers and sealers came for resources Missionaries arrived to spread Christianity Traders exchanged goods with Māori Some Europeans settled permanently

Timeline: Path to the Treaty

Group Timeline Challenge

Work in groups of 4 Use the event cards provided Arrange events in chronological order Discuss why each event was important Present your timeline to the class

Why Was the Treaty Needed?

By 1840, both Māori and Europeans realized they needed clear rules about: • Who controlled the land • How to solve disputes • What rights each group had • How to live together peacefully