About Waitangi: What Really Happened
Watch Waitaingi: What Really Happened on TVNZ Ondemand here
Watch Witi Ihimaera and director Peter Burger
talk about Waitangi - What Really Happened on Breakfast
The Treaty Of Waitangi must be the most sacred, revered and
talked about document in New Zealand history. But if you ask a New
Zealander how it actually came to be written, or who pulled it all
together on the day and who was present at the signing, at most two
names may be cited: William Hobson and Hone Heke.
Written by Gavin Strawhan (
This Is Not My Life,
Go Girls ), with
novelist Witi Ihimaera as story consultant, Waitangi: What Really
Happened is an entertaining, colourful docu-drama about the days
leading up to and including the signing of the treaty, revealing
the incredible story and the characters behind the treaty's
creation.
The premise of the show involves time travelling a reporter to
1840, where he finds a host of colourful characters all playing a
vital role in what later became Kiwi history.
He meets:
Kawiti (George Henare) ,
Hone Heke (Jarod Rawiri) ,
Hariata Rongo (Miriama Mcdowell) ,
Te Kemera Kaiteke (Rawiri Paratene) ,
Marupo (Antonio Te Maioha) ,
Tamati Waka Nene (Calvin Tuteao) ,
Patuone (William Davis) ,
James Busby (Stephen Lovatt) ,
William Colenso (Matt Norton) ,
Willam Hobson (Phil Peleton) ,
Henry Williams (Peter Daube) ,
James Stuart Freeman (Craig Parker) ,
the Reverend Ironside (Simon London) ,
Jack Jones (Stig Eldred) , Johnson (Roy Snow),
Bishop Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier (Edwin
Wright) ,
Rewa (Lawrence Wharerau) and Naval Officer (Mark
Mitchinson).
Told over three acts, the drama begins on 3rd of February, 1840 as
Busby and Colenso have asked a number of significant Nga Puhi
chiefs to converge to discuss the Treaty - but as yet, there is no
Treaty. It emerges Hobson has not even begun to write it when he
arrives by ship. Meanwhile, Maori leaders try to understand what
exactly the British hope to achieve and what advantage there might
be in making a pact with the English. Finally, in desperation,
Busby, Colenso and others, take Hobson's brief and knock together
the Treaty. It is then passed on to Henry Williams and his son,
Edward who work on the Maori translation.
It then moves to 5th February and around 400 Maori Chiefs have
gathered as Hobson reads out the Treaty in English, with Henry
Williams translating. Hobson then throws open the floor for
discussion, and Chief after Chief speak out against the Treaty in
very strong terms. Until Hone Heke - Henry Williams' wild card -
takes the floor.
It's 6th February and the Maori chiefs are leaving. Pompallier
requests that another article be added to the Treaty ensuring his
religion will not be interfered with. Hobson can see this as a way
of getting the Catholic Chiefs onside and quickly suggests some
appropriate wording. There's a tense pause and then Hone Heke comes
forward to sign, beginning the process that leads to 43 others
signing - but for many and mixed motives.
The signing of the treaty is usually portrayed as a solemn occasion
but few know that it emerged out of a combination of chaos, lack of
preparation, humour, goodwill and mixed motives. In hindsight is
can seem a miracle that the treaty was ever signed.
