James Busby & William Hobson Quiz

In 1830 there was an especially violent incident involving both Māori and Pākehā. The British government agreed to send James Busby to New Zealand as 'British Resident' in...

• 1832

• 1840

• 1842

• 1850

James Busby's job was to...

• Stop people from going on strike or protesting

• Prevent Pākehā mistreating Māori

• Protect law-abiding Pākehā

• Catch escaped convicts.

However, New Zealand was an independent territory, outside British law. Busby had no legal powers and no military force.

• True

• False

The British government also instructed Busby to work with Māori leaders towards a 'settled form of government'. In March 1834, he held a meeting of local rangatira (chiefs) and they chose a flag for New Zealand-built ships to fly. The flag still has symbolic importance today. Which flag did they choose?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Next, Busby called together local rangatira late in 1835. Thirty-four Māori leaders – calling themselves the Confederation of United Tribes – signed...

• The 'Treaty of Waitangi'

• The 'Declaration of Independence'

'A Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand' asked the British Crown to recognise the country's independence and protect it. Did the British government acknowledge the Declaration?

• No

• Yes

In 1837, intertribal fighting that also involved Pākehā broke out in the Bay of Islands. Busby asked the British government to help. They sent a naval captain called...

• Captain James Cook

• Abel Tasman

• Governor George Grey

• William Hobson

William Hobson originally decided to make a few areas 'British only' settlements as to limit intrusion on Māori independence.

• True

• False

Hobson admitted to his wife after his 1837 visit that he really believed New Zealand should be taken as a British colony, because...

• He wanted to expand the British Empire all over the world

• He wanted to rule over New Zealand

• New Zealand had rich resources

• It would be easy to do so because the Māori population was going down

A British group called the New Zealand Company planned to buy land here and send hundreds of settlers. Now, the British Government decided it had to take responsibility. This event happened in...

• 1839 (one year before the first Treaty of Waitangi signings)

• 1838 (two years before the first Treaty of Waitangi signings)

• 1837 (three years before the first Treaty of Waitangi signings)

• 1836 (four year before the first Treaty of Waitangi signings)