When Lieutenant-Governor Hobson spoke to the chiefs at Waitangi in 1840 about making a treaty, it was as though he were speaking to children. Here are the words he used.
"Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, wishing to do good to the chiefs and people of New Zealand, and for the welfare of her subjects living among you, has sent me to this place as Governor. But, as the law of England gives no civil powers to Her Majesty out of her dominions, her efforts to do you good will be futile unless you consent [to the Treaty].
Her Majesty has commanded me to explain these matters to you, that you may understand them....
You yourselves have often asked the King of England to extend his protection unto you. Her Majesty now offers you that protection in this treaty."
Imagine Hobson's surprise when Tamati Waka Nene later responded in perfect English in a very formal and rhetorical style.
"O Governor! Sit.... Do not thou go away from us; remain for us - a father, a judge, a peacemaker.... Sit thou here; dwell in our midst.... Do not listen to what Ngapuhi say. Stay thou, our friend, our father, our Governor."
The use of simplistic and patronising language with native peoples the world over reveals a deep seated belief in the intellectual deficit of people who are regarded as "primitive". This is not only a thing of the past - the same paternalism and cultural assumptions about indigenous peoples still exists today.
The worst thing about this is that we all buy into it. It is interesting to note that Tamati Waka Nene referred to the governor as "father". He obviously understood very well what was required of him in this paternalistic relationship.
