 Annexation: The action of annexing, to incorporate a territory into an existing political unit (country)  Sovereignty: Supreme power or authority.

 What reasons do you think Maori may have been looking to Britain for intervention in NZ in the early 1830s?  What reasons might the British have for NOT wanting to intervene?  How might intervention benefit the British?

 Some Northern Maori want protection.  Law and order of British.  Many Maori want closer links for trade, literacy and religious reasons.  Missionaries want to protect Maori.  Traders want trade protected.  French threat? – Baron de Thierry an eccentric French aristocrat has landed in the Bay of Islands claiming land as an independent state.

 In 1831, 13 Maori Chiefs sent a petition to King William IV under the encouragement of CMS Missionaries.  The petition asked for protection from French invasion (which was feared) and from all other nations.  They also asked for law enforcement- they wanted disorderly British residents and visitors to be punished.

 A recognition of a commercial relationship between the two countries.  The beginning of a relationship between the King and Maori people/leaders.  A first official recognition of concern regarding law and order.

 In 1833, the British Crown appoints James Busby as the first British Resident of NZ.  Busby was to be a representative of British authority in NZ.

 James Busby was born in Edinburgh.  He came to NZ in 1833 from NSW (Sydney) where he had been a viticulturist.  He settled in the Bay of Islands with his wife. They had six children.

James Busby

 To protect “well-disposed settlers and traders”  To prevent “outrages” of Europeans against Maori  To apprehend escaped convicts.  He was expected to act as a bridge between the races.  Basically, he is maintaining law and order, regulating race relations and protecting NZ from any other overseas influence.

 He had no power, authority or support.  He cannot have troops to enforce because he is a civilian.  He cannot make laws because he is a civilian.  NZ is not officially under the control of Britain, so their laws do not apply.  NSW was unwilling to provide adequate funds for Busby to be effective.

 Busby gathered Maori chiefs at Waitangi in 1834 and encouraged them to choose a national flag.  This flag was used for flying on New Zealand ships to identify them overseas  It was known as the flag of the “Independent Tribes of New Zealand”

 In 1835, Busby convinced 34 chiefs from the north to sign a Declaration of Independence of New Zealand.  They called themselves the Confederation of United Tribes.  The British recognised the Declaration and with it the independence of Maori and New Zealand.