Crown-Māori Relations: Treaty and more
Exploring Aotearoa’s history and the Treaty of Waitangi from Pre-European settlement to modern developments.
Course overview
This course will provide a historical account of Aotearoa New Zealand, the nature of Māori society and structure, and the lead up to and signing of the Treaty, including translation issues. In addition the course will focus on Treaty debates and the constitutional importance of the Treaty.
Face to face this course balances nicely with work over two half-day sessions from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
These sessions will combine lecture style teaching by the facilitator, with group discussion.
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What you'll learn
An understanding of:
- Pre-European settlement history of Aotearoa New Zealand, including the nature of traditional Māori society
- What the Treaty was intended to achieve in 1840
- Significant events in the history of the Treaty from a Māori perspective
- Development since 1840 including relevant legislation, and events relating to Crown-Māori relationships
Course modules
- Pre-European settlement and history of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Nature of traditional Māori culture
- Who were the chiefs? What is Māori customary law? What made the society tick?
- Treaty in a historical context, including the early settler contact period, the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
- Key debates surrounding the Treaty (including the translation issues)
- Recent developments including the Māori ‘renaissance’, Treaty legislation of the mid-80s, the establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal, the early Treaty settlement phase and foreshore and seabed legislation
- Constitutional importance of the Treaty, with reference to landmark Treaty jurisprudence and leading commentary such as The White Paper and UN reporting
Further Information
Format
This course is delivered as an in-person workshop at our Wellington venue, run over two half-days. It includes a mix of facilitator-led sessions, small-group exercises, and whole-group discussion. Group size is limited to 25 participants to ensure meaningful interaction and personal feedback. Morning tea is provided to support networking and collaboration.
What You'll Receive
You will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a Wellington Uni-Professional digital badge. These include the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours completed, making them suitable for recognition by professional organisations and employers.
Private courses
This programme can be adapted to suit your organisational needs and ordered as a private course. For more information, please contact our Poutaki Māori, Marie Cocker (marie.cocker@wellingtonuni-professional.nz).
Here's what others are saying
“It was an absolute privilege to experience such a challenging and potentially emotive issue as “Our Treaty Obligations” so constructively and skillfully presented, put into real life context and examined so effectively. Our entire team, with wildly diverse perspectives, were fully engaged throughout the day and both professional and personal conversations back at work in the weeks since highlight how meaningfully the day has resonated across our organisation.”
Stuart Grant, Upper Hutt City Council – 8/6/2023
“A great deep dive into te Tiriti, NZ history and early race-relations in New Zealand. Peter had a fantastic presentation style and was clearly an expert in the subject matter. Highly recommended course.”
Abigail, MFAT – 11/05/2023
“I attended the Crown-Māori Relation’s class, a cool and likely controversial view point of the treaty by Peter Adds warts, lies and all! Some in the class were shocked! I enjoyed it as Peter is an acknowledged expert on the topic and gave a view point of the treaty legacies to current every day outcomes in Aotearoa and what could happen to our society long term if we as public servants don’t do our roles adjusting the current inequity for Māori.”
Bruce Wooller, NEMA – 22/03/2023
Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options
01 Oct 2025 | Wellington
Duration: 2 half-days
$NZD 895
excl. GST
Can’t make these dates or want a private course?
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