‘This book allows the voices of the past to be heard directly.’
— Natalie Coates, from her Introduction
Weaving together voices, documents and images from centuries of cooperation, conflict and change, The Treaty of Waitangi Companion ranges from first contact between Māori and Europeans to today’s debates over the place of te Tiriti o Waitangi in our constitutional arrangements.
Rather than offering a single narrative, Vincent O’Malley and Bruce Stirling bring readers close to the historical record itself. They draw on the words of key figures, from William Hobson and Hōne Heke to Dame Whina Cooper, Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. These voices trace the story from te Tiriti’s signing in 1840 through war and land loss, Māori renaissance and Waitangi Tribunal inquiries, and on to the debates that continue to shape Aotearoa today.
Presented in full colour and updated throughout, this new edition is an essential resource for students, teachers and anyone wanting to understand how the history of this foundational document continues to matter.