Her Majesty Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
               Ireland regarding with Her Royal Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New
               Zealand and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property and to secure
               to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order has deemed it necessary
               in consequence of the great number of Her Majesty's Subjects who have
               already settled in New Zealand and the rapid extension of Emigration both
               from Europe and Australia which is still in progress to constitute and appoint
               a functionary properly authorized to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand
               for the recognition of Her Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or any
               part of those islands.

               Her Majesty therefore being desirous to establish a settled form of Civil
               Government with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result
               from the absence of the necessary Laws and Institutions alike to the native
               population and to Her subjects has been graciously pleased to empower
               and to authorize "me William Hobson a Captain" in Her Majesty's Royal
               Navy Consul and Lieutenant Governor of such parts of New Zealand as may
               be or hereafter shall be ceded to Her Majesty to invite the confederated and
               independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following Articles and
               Conditions.

               ARTICLE THE FIRST
               The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the
               separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the
               Confederation cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England absolutely and
               without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said
               Confederation or Individual Chiefs respectively exercise or possess, or may
               be supposed to exercise or to possess, over their respective Territories as
               the sole Sovereigns thereof.

               ARTICLE THE SECOND
               Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs
               and Tribes of New Zealand and to the respective families and individuals
               thereof the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and
               Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively
               or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the
               same in their possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the
               individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Preemption over
               such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate at such
               prices as may be agreed upon between the respective Proprietors and
               persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.

               ARTICLE THE THIRD
               In consideration thereof Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the
               Natives of New Zealand Her royal protection and imparts to them all the
               Rights and Privileges of British Subjects.

               [Signed] W Hobson Lieutenant Governor

               Now therefore We the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of
               New Zealand being assembled in Congress at Victoria in Waitangi and We
               the Separate and Independent Chiefs of New Zealand claiming authority over
               the Tribes and Territories which are specified after our respective names,
               having been made fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty,
               accept and enter into the same in the full spirit and meaning thereof in
               witness of which we have attached our signatures or marks at the places
               and the dates respectively specified

               Done at Waitangi this Sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord one
               thousand eight hundred and forty.
 
 

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