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In Search of Families In Search of Adventure
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The (alternative) Treaty of Waitangi
From: Kirstie
Subject: The (alternative) Treaty of Waitangi |
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Date:
12th
April 2005
Place: Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand |
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The place the Treaty was
signed
A waka like this Mum?
Is this a Kauri tree Mummy?
The Maori meeting house
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"Ok
Matthew and Cameron, we're here. This is Waitangi. This
is where a famous Treaty was signed many years ago between
the Maori and the…"
"What's a treaty Mum?"
"I want a treaty. Does
it have treats in it Mummy? Like a lemonade popsicle
or a sweetie?"
"No, no treats."
"Then why is it called
a treaty Mum?"
"Treaty rhymes with sweetie, Mummy."
"Yes it does rhyme Cam, but there was definitely no
sweeties in it. Anyway, many years ago the Maori people
came here in canoes from the Polynesian islands and
settled here "
"Did they came in kayak's too?"
"No, not kayak's. Wooden canoes, waka, made out of Kauri
trees."
"Oh. What's a Kauri tree?"
"An ancient pine that's native to New Zealand. Look
like the one just here."
"Oh."
"Then later the British and the Europeans came…."
"In kayaks Mummy?"
"No. No one came in kayaks Cam."
"Why not Mum?"
"Well Matthew, because kayaks weren't invented then."
"Why not?"
"Because the Maori's made big canoes out of wood and
the Brits sailed in big boats."
"Bigger than a kayak?"
"Much bigger than a kayak."
"Oh."
"But they didn't always get along very well."
"Who didn't Mum?"
"The British and the Maori's, and many of the Maori
tribes were fighting within themselves too."
"What's a British Mummy?"
"Someone who comes from Britain."
"Like me and Cameron?"
"Yes."
"Did they hit each other and push like me and Cameron?"
"Sometimes. So they decided to sign something to say
they'd be nice to each other."
"Why?"
"So they could live together nicely. They signed what
is called a treaty. One copy was written in Maori, and
the other English."
"Why?"
"Because they spoke different languages."
"Why?"
"Because they came from different places."
"In a kayak?"
"No Cameron, Mum already said they came in a waka didn't
you Mum. Cameron is stupid. Was it like this one?"
"Not stupid. You stupid and filthy."
"Mum, Cameron just hit me."
"Ow, Matthew hit me."
"We need a treaty in this family, so we can coexist
in peace. God would I like a bit of peace."
"And I want a treat."
"And I want a sweetie."
"Get off Cameron, you're squashing me,"
"Right, Cameron, get off Matthew's head and go get me
a piece of paper. We are going to sign an agreement
to all live peacefully together."
"No, No Cam, that's my paper. Mum, Cameron's stealing
my paper."
"Can he have just one piece of that paper Matt, for
the treaty. Just one? Go on. Well done boys. Now shall
we write this treaty?"
"But I don't understand Maori Mum."
"It's Ok Matt, we'll just write it in English."
"But it's got to be in Maori too. I know! I can say
'I'm hungry in Japanese. Shall we do one in Japanese
Mum?"
"No Matt. No one can speak Japanese can they?"
"Japanese people can."
"But no one in this family can…"
"I can say 'I'm Hungry'"
"Look Matthew. We can't do a whole treaty based on two
words can we? Now what would you want Cameron to agree
to do in your treaty so you could live nicely and not
fight?"
"Not steal my helicopter."
"Ok, we'll write that. Not steal helicopter. Anything
else?"
"Cameron, you're not to touch my helicopter for ever
and ever, all right?."
"Don't want helicopter."
"Well you cant have it…ever."
"Matthew, you don't steal my lamby to go on your helicopter."
"Right boys. That's enough about helicopters. What else."
"Cameron is to do all his wees and poos on the toilet."
"That's a good one. Cameron, will you do that?"
"No."
"Cam, is there anything you'd like Matthew to do?"
"Play with me in the playground."
"No. Don't EVER come near me in the playground. And
don't ever keep me awake when I'm trying to sleep. And
no crying. And don't eat all the sweeties."
"You stupid and filthy."
"Mum, Cameron just hit me."
"I want Daddy. Daddy, Mummy and Matthew upset me."
"Guys shall we sign this treaty? Matthew? Cameron? Ok
boys, if you sign the treaty I'll give you both a treat.
Sweeties, lemonade popsicles, anyone for a treat? Go
and look in my bar bag."
"Mum, Cam's got all the sweeties. And it was in the
treaty…don't eat all the sweeties RIGHT? Mum, Cameron's
taken my helicopter, Mum, tell Cameron. Mum, I don't
like Cameron."
"Right, that's the treaty finished. I've had enough
now. Sign it here both of you."
"In Maori?"
"Matthew, you can sign it in bloody Japanese for all
I care."
"Get off Cameron, I'm signing it."
"No I sign it."
"Mum, Cameron's ripped the treaty. Don't ever EVER do
that to the treaty again Cameron. Mum, Cameron's ripped
the treaty and done a wee in his pants. Mum, Mum?" |
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