Every high school in New Zealand will receive a copy of Understanding Te Tiriti, a book explaining the Treaty of Waitangi, thanks to a generous donation by an Auckland couple.
The Pākehā pair, who wish to remain anonymous, bought over 600 copies to help students learn about New Zealand’s founding document. The book aims to provide a clear and factual guide to the Treaty and its significance.
The couple was inspired after hearing the book’s author, Roimata Smail, speak at The Women’s Bookshop earlier this year. Bookshop owner Carol Beu shared that the pair initially bought a few copies but soon returned, determined to gift the book to every high school in the country. Smail said she was surprised and thrilled by the gesture, which she described as “incredible.”
The first school to receive copies, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Te Raki Paewhenua in Auckland, reported that students were already finding the book valuable. One student noted the differences between the Māori and English versions of the Treaty, highlighting how these differences affect understanding of sovereignty and land rights.
This donation comes at a time when the Treaty of Waitangi is frequently in the news. Beu believes the book’s distribution is timely, helping young people and the wider public understand Treaty issues without political bias. Smail added that the book helps readers grasp the facts behind discussions often heard in the media and Parliament.
very interesting
I loved reading it because, I never knew that maybe chocolate might be gone in the future!
save the chocolate…
I enjoyed this reading because
it show what climate changes does!!
they might have to move most chocolate into a colder place, since the climate clock is getting low
so temperature might get higher.
i love chocolate
I’m allergic to dairy, but this makes me sad for my best friends all around NZ (don’t think it’s weird because I actually do). And my chocolate loving cousin, her name is Dana (I’m from South Korea and she told me how to spell her name in Korean but its not pronounced like Dana).
I know that there are chocolate lovers around the world so, poor them or if you like chocolate poor you (even though I’m allergic to dairy, or to make it easy dairy products: cheese, milk, butter etc).