TREATY OF WAITANGI - FRENCH THREAT

1. THE TREATY OF WAITANGI
FRENCH THREAT
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2. FRANCE OR THE UNITED STATES?
There was a considerable
fear that a foreign nation,
such as France or the United
States might try to take
control of New Zealand.
Many whaling ships from the
United States visited the Bay
of Islands each year.
Sketch of French settlers at Akaroa (Te Papa, 1992-0035-1718)

3. BARON CHARLES DE THIERRY
In 1837, a Frenchman Baron
Charles de Thierry arrived in
the Hokianga (Northland)
and claimed a large area of
land and declared himself
‘Sovereign Chief’ of New
Zealand.
Sketch of French settlers at Akaroa (Te Papa, 1992-0035-1718)

4. MEETING HONGI HIKA
In 1820, in England, he met travelling Māori
chiefs Hongi Hika and Waikato, and New
Zealand missionary Thomas Kendall.
He arranged for Kendall to purchase 16,000ha of
Hokianga land, for payment of 36 axes.
He tried to get the Dutch and French
governments to form a colony, and make him
Governor. They declined.
Charles de Thierry

5. BISHOP POMPALLIER CONVERTING MAORI
Pompallier found converting Maori to Catholicism very difficult, especially
as his Anglican and Wesleyan ‘rivals’ were well established in the area
before he arrived.
He did have some success with Maori people who had defected from rival
groups or as a result of his healing some sick Maori people.
Following the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, things were made more difficult
as French Catholics were regarded as foreigners and not to be trusted.

7. NANTO-BORDELAISE COMPANY
In 1838 Captain Jean-François Langlois made a
provisional purchase of land in "the greater Banks
Peninsula" from Tuaanau. A deposit of commodities in the
value of ₤6 was paid and a further ₤234 worth of
commodities was to be paid at a later period. On his return
to France, he advertised for settlers to come to New
Zealand and ceded his interest in the land to the Nanto-
Bordelaise Company, of which he became a part owner.
Nanto-Bordelaise = from Nantes and Bordeaux

8. FRENCH IN AKAROA
On 9 March 1840, 63 emigrants left from Rochefort. The settlers embarked
on the Comte de Paris – a ship given to them by the French government –
for New Zealand. The Comte de Paris and its companion ship the Aube,
captained by Commodore Charles Lavaud, arrived in the Bay of Islands in
the North Island on 11 July 1840, where they discovered that the Banks
Peninsula had been claimed by the British. The French arrived in Akaroa
on 18 August and established a settlement.

10. AKAROA = WANGALOA
The area still has a French influence, reflected in many local place names.
Before 1840, the area of the current Akaroa town was also known as
Wangaloa, and the subsequent French settlement was known as Port
Louis-Philippe, named after the French king of the time.

11. HOMEWORK