He Whakaputanga

He Whakaputanga, also known as the Declaration of the Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand (1835), was a formal assertion by some Māori chiefs that they recognized themselves as an independent nation. It aimed to establish Māori sovereignty and request British protection, emphasizing unity among tribes. While it was not a treaty and did not create a government, it marked an important step toward acknowledging Māori self-determination. In 1840, the British government formally recognized Māori sovereignty with the Treaty of Waitangi, which built upon the principles expressed in He Whakaputanga.