There are three ways in which one state may acquire sovereignty over another – by cession, by conquest, and by occupation. The British government gained the sovereignty over New Zealand through four ways.

1. Cession by treaty. A total of 512 chiefs, including 13 women, signed the Treaty of Waitangi, mostly the Maori language text, at 34 locations around New Zealand between February 6 and May 21, 1840. As a reminder, all the treaty actually says is that the Queen is sovereign and Maori are her subjects, with the rights of subjects, including possession of property.

2. Proclamation. Lieutenant Governor William Hobson proclaimed sovereignty over the North Island on May 21, 1840, on the grounds of cession by treaty. Major Thomas Bunbury and Captain Joseph Nias R.N. proclaimed sovereignty over Stewart Island on June 5 on the basis of Cook’s discovery, and over the South Island on June 17, at Port Underwood, on the basis of cession. The proclamations appeared in the London Gazette on October 2, 1840.

3. Occupation. Around 2000 non-Maori, predominantly British people occupied New Zealand in 1840. By 1858, settlers outnumbered Maori by 3000: 59,000 to 56,000. By 1881 there were 500,000 settlers.

4. Conquest. If the defeats of tribes who took up arms against the government during the 1860s is to be considered, the British government also confirmed sovereignty over New Zealand by conquest. In those wars, a total of 2154 anti-government Maori and 745 pro-government Maori, settlers and British soldiers were killed.