Dear Minister,
A recent edition of elocal contained an open letter to you from historian Martin Doutre requesting that you commission an independent forensic investigation into the version of the Treaty of Waitangi signed at Port Waikato in April 1840. Mr Doutre is convinced that this version of the Treaty was not ever a direct translation of the official Tiriti o Waitangi, and departs from that official Maori version of the Treaty in several important respects. Nevertheless, this version of the Treaty became the “official” English version of the Treaty in the absence of the final draft which Governor Hobson gave to Henry Williams for translation into Maori.
The final English draft of the Treaty has now been discovered of course, and it accords almost exactly with the Tiriti (the main difference being that the final English draft was dated on 4 February 1840, and the Tiriti was dated on the following day).
Requesting an independent forensic investigation of the document signed at Port Waikato – which clearly differs in some important respects from Tiriti and from the final English draft dated 4 February – is surely a reasonable thing for any historian to request.
Mr Doutre’s letter was long but respectful. It is perhaps unfortunate that the letter was published under the heading of “Scumbuggery” – I take responsibility for that headline and apologise for it. It was not Mr Doutre’s choice of title.
I have now received a letter from Mr Rob Eaddy, your Chief of Staff. That letter deplores what Mr Eaddy describes as “the indecorous and puerile title ‘Scumbuggery’” and goes on “Given the intemperate tenor of Mr Doutre’s ramblings, Mr Dunne will extend to him and your publication the courtesy of his silence”.
Sir, with respect, there was nothing intemperate about Mr Doutre’s letter. He argued carefully that the official English version of the Treaty, based on the document signed at Port Waikato in April 1840, is clearly not an accurate reflection of what Governor Hobson intended, as reflected in the final draft of the Treaty dated 4 February 1840 and in Tiriti.
Given the enormous importance for New Zealand’s future of a clear understanding of what Governor Hobson intended – as reflected in both Tiriti and the final draft in English dated 4 February 1840 – it is surely of enormous importance that there be an independent investigation into the “Port Waikato document”.
Could I ask you to reconsider your rejection of this request?
Copyright © 2024 Don Brash.