The office of Treaty Settlements and Treaty history: an historiographical study of the historical accounts, acknowledgements and apologies written by the crown, 1992 to 2003

Abstract

This thesis examines the historical accounts, acknowledgements and apologies that have been published by the Crown in the Deeds of Settlement, between 1993 and 2003. It explores the particular characteristics and features of these histories when seen in the context of the Treaty settlement process. The Crown has considered the historical accounts to be accurate summaries of the background to the breakdown in the Treaty relationship between the Crown and the claimant group. However, this study questions the neutrality of the historical accounts, acknowledgements and apologies. This study draws on a close reading of the Deeds of Settlement and the findings from interviews with those who have participated in the Treaty settlement process. This thesis argues that these settlements of historical grievances are significant postcolonial moments in the history of Crown-iwi relations. They are the product of a post-colonial morality whereby the Crown uses the histories and the apologies to absolve itself of past wrongs and to restore its honour. A number of factors have lessened the potential restorative value of the settlement for some claimant groups. Political and legal considerations have had a restrictive effect on the histories and apologies and in addition, the Crown has dominated the negotiations. This has caused some claimant group negotiators to feel that their historical experiences have been ignored and excluded from the Deeds of Settlement.