4. What was the Declaration of Independence?

British Resident James Busby believed that a French eccentric, Baron Charles de Thierry, was part of a French plot to annex New Zealand so he decided to declare New Zealand independent under the sovereignty of the United Tribes of New Zealand. He presented his Declaration of Independence to the chiefs on October 28, 1835, but only 39 chiefs signed. Ambitious resolutions were signed at the October 28 meeting. At least 10 signed later but nothing further eventuated and no further meetings were held. The so-called Confederation of United Tribes was abandoned in face of continued fighting between confederation members. It never got off the ground.