Just in case you were wondering, there is nowhere in any version of the Treaty of Waitangi, where it was agreed that the crown would only govern non-MÄori.
You are expected to accept that it's in between the lines somewhere. The evidence? "Trust me bro"
There's convincing evidence that this was not the intention, & every chief who signed knew this, I will explain.....
Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that the MÄori activists are correct. Let's assume that 540 (ish) chiefs signed the treaty expecting that only non-MÄori would be subject to crown law.
Following the signing of the treaty, the crown began to govern. And, they governed everyone. We know they governed everyone because in 1842 the crown carried out it's first hanging.
MaketĹŤ WharetĹtara, a 17 year old MÄori boy, was hung at noon on March 7th 1842 on the corner of Queen Street & Victoria Street, in what is now the centre of the Auckland CBD, in front of about 1,000 people. He had been convicted of murdering 5 people in the Bay of Islands.
MÄori accepted the judgement & the sentence.
In 1849 the crown hanged Maroro, of NgÄti Kahungunu descent in Mount Cook in front of a crowd of 500 people. He had been convicted of murdering a man & his 3 children.
MÄori accepted the judgement & the sentence.
There are other examples of imprisonments & convictions of MÄori under crown law between 1840 & The Kohimärama Conference of 1860.
In 1952 the crown set up our first parliament. MÄori were not given a seat at the table.
For 20 years these 540 chiefs, who signed a treaty that said they would not be governed, lived under crown governance, without a seat at the table, were subjected to crown law to the point where MÄori were prosecuted, & even executed.
Then there was The Kohimärama Conference in 1860. Finally a chance for MÄori to air their many grievances.
And yet, if you read the transcripts of their speeches at The Kohimärama Conference, none of them complained. On the contrary, they spoke of love for the governor, the crown, & the laws of England.
So you have two versions of events to choose from.
Version 1
MÄori signed a treaty that they believed was a partnership with the crown, where they would not be subject to crown law. They then watched as the crown prosecuted, imprisoned, & executed MÄori while enforcing crown law over MÄori for 20 years. At no stage were MÄori invited into parliament or given any say whatsoever.
In 1860, when given a chance to speak on the issue of the Treaty, & crown governance, despite having been totally & objectively screwed over, they spoke of their love for the queen, the crown, & the laws of England.
Version 2
MÄori signed a document that they understood ceded governance of New Zealand to the crown, including governance of MÄori. Because they were not in charge, they allowed the crown to prosecute, & sometimes execute MÄori.
In 1860 they didn't complain because they had been living under the terms they agreed on.