MŌRENA! Let's start the week with a #TiritiFacts thread...

#TiritiFact: Sovereignty was never ceded. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is NOT a treaty of cession, and that's been confirmed by the Crown.

https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz/news/report-on-stage-1-of-the-te-paparahi-o-te-raki-inquiry-released-2/

#TiritiFact: Out of 540 signatories, 501 signatures were on the Reo Māori document (Te Tiriti o Waitangi).

39 signed the English document The Treaty of Waitangi.

Basic contract law directs interpretation to favour the weight of signatories.

#TiritiFact: Under the international legal doctrine of contra proferentum, where ambiguity exists within an agreement, it should be interpreted against the drafting party.

This, again, favours Te Tiriti over The Treaty

#TiritiFact: Article 1 - Kawanatanga is subordinate to Rangatiratanga (the right to govern is subordinate to the right to reign).

If they wanted to hand over rangatiratanga they would and could have. They didn't.

#TiritiFact: Te Tiriti did not create rights for Māori. Māori already had rights by virtue of occupation and whakapapa, which were re-affirmed in Te Tiriti. Pākeha had NO legal pre-treaty rights in Aotearoa. Te Tiriti is the source of Non-Māori rights.

#TiritiFact: Article 2 - Rangatiratanga means self-determination. Thassit, no small print.

#TiritiFact Article 3 - equal rights and privileges of British citizens means equity of outcomes, not equal treatment or even equal goals. Equal treatment is not in the text and that is not how the Tribunal (ie The Crown), nor Māori authorities, have interpreted it. Ever.

#TiritiFact Article 4 - (yes there's an article four) guarantees religious freedom and that is NOT restricted to Christianity. It vows to protect Indigenous faith and the religions that came with Tangata Tiriti. That includes Hindu & Islam.

Have a great week. Honour Te Tiriti.