My Ballad - Before the Treaty

In class we have been learning about why the treaty of Waitangi
Was written and signed. We have been writing ballads about this.

Before the Treaty

Trading wood, flax and food were the chief,
Of many tribes to save them the grief,
Of their tribe numbers dropping to one and then none,
You see they were trading for muskets; a gun
Tribes fired on tribes within their range,
As their tribe boundaries were starting to change.

Next on the traders list were the whales,
Who got slaughtered then traded when a ship rose their sails,
They were a way for a while,
Out further than a mile,
So when land was in sight,
They would party and fight.

The Missionaries came,
With one big aim,
To change the customs that were tribal,
So that Maori could read the bible,
They then bought some land,
With a shake of a hand.

There were many changes to Maori ways of life,
Including Pakiha and Maori becoming husband and Wife,
In 1835 NZ got an independence,
Signed by 34 chiefs in attendance
We signed the treat in sync and afterward had a friendly drink.