The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by representatives of the British Crown and over 500 chiefs from various tribes across New Zealand.

The Treaty was first signed on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi by Captain William Hobson (on behalf of Queen Victoria) and about 40 northern tribal chiefs. Over the following months, copies of the Treaty were taken around the country, and by September 1840, over 500 chiefs had signed.

All signatories on the Crown’s side were British officials or missionaries acting under Hobson’s authority. On the Māori side, the signatories were rangatira (chiefs) representing different hapū (sub-tribes).

Not all chiefs agreed to sign. Some refused, but most did so based on assurances of the Crown’s protection over their lands, homes and other possessions.

Reference

• List of signatories: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/treaty/signing/signatories