Introducing the English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi
A grant to support the writing of Introducing the English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi, a short, accessible edition of Ned Fletcher’s award-winning study of the Treaty’s English text, published by Bridget Williams Books.
About the project
Ned Fletcher’s The English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi (BWB, 2022) is a landmark work of scholarship – winner of the General Non-Fiction Award at the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. This grant supports the writing of Introducing the English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi, a 136-page paperback drawing on the same archival research to reach a wider readership. The book guides readers through the origins, intentions and meaning of the Treaty’s English text and the imperial context in which it was drafted. Fletcher’s narrative – including the argument that the English and Māori texts reconcile, and that the framers of the Treaty intended Māori to retain authority over their own affairs – has contributed to contemporary understanding of Te Tiriti. This short edition brings that account to general readers, students, teachers, lawyers and public servants. Bridget Williams Books will publish the book in the second half of 2026.
Grant amount
$30,000 for work in 2025-2026.
About
Bridget Williams Books (BWB) is an independent, award-winning publisher based in Wellington, founded in 1990. BWB publishes books on New Zealand’s history and contemporary issues, including foundational works on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Its publishing programme spans full-length histories, the BWB Texts series of short books on major issues, and the digital BWB Collections — which provide ebook access to subscribing libraries nationwide. More at www.bwb.co.nz.
Contact
Tom Rennie, Publisher and Manager, Bridget Williams Books
Contact details: tom.rennie@bwb.co.nz | 022 600 7939 | www.bwb.co.nz