The Treaty of Waitangi Companion

Book excerpt: The first comprehensive guide to key documents and notable quotations on New Zealand's Treaty of Waitangi, this volume explores the relationship between the Maori and the Pakeha—New Zealanders who are not of Maori descent. Sourced from government publications, newspapers, letters, diaries, poems, songs, and cartoons, this enlightening anthology provides an introduction to the many voices that have shaped Maori and Pakeha history since 1840. The compilation includes primary historical sources in Maori as well as the English translations and covers numerous topics, including background to the treaty, the New Zealand Wars, the Maori Women's Movement, and Don Brash's politics. Thorough and informative, this is a significant work that will appeal to those interested in pacifism, biculturalism, and racial equality.