United Tribes Hoop Earrings

These Rerehua are

- Engraved 20mm Rectangle Pendants on 20mm Hoops

Available in

- 18K Gold or Rhodium Silver Plated Stainless Steel

Meaning

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni

The 'Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand'

- The He Whakaputanga or United Tribes flag was created in 1834. It was necessary for Māori to choose a flag so that they could continue to participate in the major trading markets and adhere to navigation laws for ships to operate.

- The flag came to represent the He Whakaputanga Declaration, which is often described as the tuakana to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It was a declaration to the world that Māori were a sovereign people and an independent state. This was signed in 1835 at Waitangi and sent to Britain where it was recognised and reaffirmed by King William IV.

Waitangi Tribunal findings

- "He Whakaputanga was a declaration that Māori authority would endure, and that foreigners would not be allowed to make laws"