The Treaty of Waitangi; or, how New Zealand became a British Colony

A detailed historical narrative traces how a colonial power negotiated and established sovereignty over the islands now called New Zealand, focusing on the diplomatic, legal, and missionary contacts that preceded formal agreement. The author reconstructs the events leading to the treaty through official dispatches, contemporary memoranda, and scattered eyewitness material, examining the document's articles, the processes of signature and ratification, and ensuing administrative arrangements. The work combines narrative chapters with documentary appendices, illustrations, and bibliography to present competing accounts and allow readers to assess contested points about origins of colonial authority and its early practical implementation.