Waitangi Day debates about New Zealand’s sovereignty often fixate on a single moment: the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. This focus is understandable, given the Treaty’s significance to both Māori and the Crown.

But is this the full story of how New Zealand’s sovereignty was established? And if not, is there a way for the country to move beyond divisive arguments about sovereignty and the Treaty?

To read the full article on the NZ Herald website, click here.