Is the Treaty a Joke?” – the Treaty of Waitangi 180 years on

On Thursday 6th February we in Aotearao-New Zealand commemorated the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Events were held at Waitangi and around Aotearoa-New Zealand. 

So what are we commemorating: A piece of legal history of no consequence today? A tool for the British to steal Maori land? A device that allowed Maori to enjoy the benefits of being part of the British Empire and access to European technology and knowledge? A document that set out the parameters of future race relations? What does the Treaty as our founding document have to offer us today 180 years after it was signed?

On Sunday 9th February Buddy Mikaere helped us look afresh at the place of the Treaty for us in Tauranga, and in New Zealand 180 years on. 

The first 35 minutes are his presentation and the rest is the conversation that followed between Buddy and members of the audience.

Buddy Mikaere is a professional historian by qualification and specialises in Maori consultation and associated activities working on his own account. For the past fourteen years he has facilitated Maori consultation for many development projects working closely with government departments, local government, large corporate companies and many other clients mostly in the area of resource consents. He is regarded as the country’s leading practitioner in his specialist area of expertise i.e. dealing with cultural issues arising from resource consent applications and has appeared as an expert witness on many occasions. 

Prior to becoming engaged in consultancy work, Buddy was Director of the Waitangi Tribunal where he was involved in a major overhaul in how historical information was collected and published. It was the biggest ever research programme in the country and involved both recruiting the best graduate historians out of the universities and computerising the results. He has undertaken the preparation of a number of research reports and is a published author in his specialist field of 19th century race relations. He brings this experienced and expertise to the issues around the Treaty and it’s place in our society today.

Buddy was also the founding Chairperson of the Maori Business Network – Tamaki Makaurau and a founding Board Member of the NZ Universities Academic Audit Unit. He is currently the voluntary CEO for Te Manawa Pou Tahi - Tauranga Maori Business Network.  

Buddy has also served as an Adviser to the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and as a Hearing Commissioner to the Far North and Gisborne District Councils and the Taranaki Regional Council. He spent seven years on the Board of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Buddy is currently writing a biography of the Hauhau prophet Kereopa Te Rau; the man convicted of the murder of the missionary Carl Volkner in Opotiki in 1865.