In response to the letter from R Anderson regarding constitutional documents held by Archives New Zealand (www.sunlive.co.nz, September 4):
There are many constitutional documents under the control of the Chief Archivist, all of which are considered taonga.
The three constitutional documents selected for the new He Tohu exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand were chosen as they represent pivotal moments in the history of our nation. The Treaty of Waitangi is considered to be the founding document of New Zealand and has exceptional preservation requirements, while the Declaration of Independence and the Women's Suffrage Petition are key instruments of change in the history of our nation.
The remaining constitutional documents that were viewable in the former Constitution Room at Archives New Zealand are not 'lost forever”. They are public records and continue to be available for inspection by the public. Some documents are very fragile and can only be seen by appointment with a conservator present. We are in the process of making high resolution copies of all constitutional documents available online. In the meantime, an easy way to view and learn about these documents is through the Archives NZ Flickr album of Constitutional Papers. www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/albums
R Foy, Chief Archivist (Acting), Archives New Zealand.
2 comments
How Arrogant, the
Posted on 16-09-2017 12:13 | By crazyhorse
Everyone who reads this letter from the "system" from R Foy Chief Archivist (Acting), acting is right, this carefully worded letter to the ed from the "system" is very carefully worded but should fool no one! ""Roy says The Treaty of Waitangi is "considered" to be the founding document of New Zealand and has exceptional preservation requirements, what about the Queens Charter that was actually a legal document, please save me the BS that you and your cronies are doing this for the good of an exhibition, if people cant see it they won't know it exists, this exhibition will be visited by thousands of people, children especially, is this little charade another way of hiding away the truth, if you can't see it you will not ask about it, hang your head in shame Roy!.
Honor & be proud of the Royal Charter
Posted on 16-09-2017 12:15 | By crazyhorse
The Royal Charter dated the 16 November 1840 superseded the Treaty of Waitangi and this is the day all New Zealanders should be celebrating as it united the country under one flag and one law.If the Government continues to use the Treaty of Waitangi as our Founding Document and not the Royal Charter/Letters Patent, we will never solve our racial and social problems, the Treaty will continue to drive a wedge between all the people of New Zealand.We need to vote people into power who will honor the Royal Charter as our true Founding Document and first Constitution, not those who continue to mislead us with todays distorted versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.
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