Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People: an interactive workbook on the Treaty of Waitangi
Our “green book” is now out of print, but the most popular activities are available to download for free.
What is Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People?
Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People is a 125-page book with simple, accurate information about the Treaty of Waitangi in plain English.
This information is organised into series of activities for groups to learn about the Treaty.
Each activity is divided into:
- background information
- directions for facilitators
- activity resources (e.g. handouts, slides)
What information does it cover?
- The history leading to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
- Māori aspirations for the relationship with new settlers as shown in the Declaration of Independence
- What the Treaty (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) says
- A comparison with the English version
- An overview of the history of colonisation
- An exploration of dominant and minority cultures in Aotearoa/New Zealand
- What the Treaty means for us today in Aotearoa/New Zealand
How are these activities different from other resources on the Treaty of Waitangi?
The Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People programme is:
- inclusive: the activities explicitly include members of all our cultures present in Aotearoa/ New Zealand and invites all of us to take our place in the contemporary debate surrounding the Treaty of Waitangi
- accessible: the resource is written in plain English so that it can be understood by all participants – young and old, including those for whom English is a relatively new language.
- interactive: the activities require members of the group to participate and collaborate in learning about the Treaty of Waitangi
- balanced: the signing of the Treaty and the settlement of Aotearoa is explored from Māori and Tauiwi (non-Māori) perspectives
Who are the activities suitable for?
Activities are suitable for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi. Activities are suitable for all tangata tiriti (Tauiwi, including Pākehā) and for tangata whenua. The resources can be used with new migrants, ‘older’ settlers, students, adult learners and employees.
Who can use the book?
Anyone is free to facilitate activities from the Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People book. It has been used by adult educators, Treaty educators, ESOL teachers, high-school teachers, tertiary educators, workshop facilitators and training managers.
What organisations find the book useful?
Typical organisations who purchase the book are libraries, private training establishments (PTEs), social service organisations, migrant communities, councils, government and non-government organisations.
Where and how is it used?
Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People has grown into a popular programme for
- newcomers to the country seeking orientation and jobs
- non-government agencies needing training for their multicultural staff
- government agencies wanting refresher training for experienced staff.
Activities work best in a group or workshop setting.
Where can I get a copy?
The book is currently out of print, however core activities are available for download for free on our website.
