The Treaty of Waitangi is a very important document for New Zealand. This is an agreement that was drawn up by representatives of the British Crown and the Maori Hapu and Iwi. It was first signed in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840. Over the years there has been much discussion about the translation of words between the English and Te Reo Maori versions of the text and about the differences in the meaning of the words in the chi languages. In this assignment I will cover the rights and responsibilities contained in the treaty and explain the differences in wording and also contextualise my understanding of the differences in wording to the Māori worldview and the Declaration of Independence. The Treaty of Waitangi had many agreements and promises. It also possessed many rights within it. The Crown was granted the right of governorship, not sovereignty, over Māori land. But for Māori there were many more rights to iwi and hapu contained in the Treaty. Maori were given the right to full rangatiratanga of their lands, they had the right to have the Crown protect them from further invasions of their lands and Maori were given the same rights and privileges as the British people. With the Treaty came many responsibilities to both the Crown and the Maori. The Crown had the responsibility to govern the territory, not to own it, but simply to guard it. In the Treaty of Waitangi the Crown granted Maori rangatiratanga over their lands, so the Crown had a responsibility to let Maori have command over their lands and taonga, and with that the Crown also had a responsibility to actively protect Maori and Taonga. The Queen, the Crown and all of Great Britain had a responsibility to honor the Treaty, in which the...... half of the document ......n. In this assignment I have covered the rights and responsibilities that the treaty contains and an explanation of the differences in wording and I have also contextualised my understanding of the differences in wording to the Māori worldview and the Declaration of Independence. Works Cited All about the Treatise. (2005). Wellington, New Zealand: Treaty of Waitangi Information ProgrammeDurie, M. (2003). Nga Kahui pou launches Maori features. Wellington, New Zealand: Huia PublishersOrange, C. (2004). The Illustrated History of the Treaty of Waitangi. Wellington, New Zealand: Astra PrintMerriam-Webster Dictionary. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.comMinistry of Culture and Heritage. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz