James Busby arrives as British Resident
- When
- 17 May 1833
- Where
- Waitangi
- Reach
- Local
Britain’s first official in New Zealand arrived with a grand title, no troops, no budget and no legal authority — remembered as a man-of-war without guns.
Busby was meant to protect settlers and shipping, restrain British subjects and keep the peace, with none of the means to do any of it. What he could do was convene rangatira, and he did: the United Tribes flag in 1834 and He Whakaputanga in 1835 both came out of meetings he called at Waitangi. His residence became the setting for the treaty signing in 1840.
Regions affected
Sources
Written for this project from these references rather than copied from them. Follow a link to check the account against the original.
Related
The flag of the United Tribes is chosen
Twenty-five northern rangatira selected a national flag so that New Zealand-built ships could be registered and trade legally.
WaitangiHongi Hika travels to England
The Ngāpuhi leader met King George IV in London, then converted the gifts he received into muskets on the return journey through Sydney.
Bay of IslandsTe Kotahitanga — the Māori Parliament
Te Kotahitanga o Te Tiriti o Waitangi
A Māori parliament met annually for a decade, seeking the self-government promised by Te Tiriti and passing its own legislation.
Waipatu, Hawke’s BayNew Zealand becomes a separate colony
New Zealand was detached from New South Wales and given its own Governor, Legislative Council and courts.