Case Study: The Arguments of Tino Rangatiratanga
Analyzing the 1975 Land March with the PEEL Method
Context: A Nation on the Move
In 1975, a group of Māori leaders, led by Dame Whina Cooper, organized a march from the top of the North Island to Parliament in Wellington. The hīkoi (march) was a protest against the ongoing loss of Māori land. The arguments they made were not just emotional; they were carefully structured, powerful, and designed to persuade a nation. This handout analyzes those arguments using the PEEL structure.
This resource is a companion to the PEEL Argument Handout.
Deconstructing the Argument
P - Point: "Not one more acre of Māori land."
This was the central, unifying point of the entire movement. It was a clear, concise, and powerful statement of their goal. It argued that the historical process of land alienation had to stop immediately.
E - Evidence: The Memorial of Right
The marchers carried a 'Memorial of Right' to Parliament. This document was their key piece of evidence. It detailed the specific laws and government actions that had led to the loss of millions of acres of land since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. It listed statutes, dates, and the exact amount of land lost, providing factual evidence to support their point.
E - Explanation: The Betrayal of Te Tiriti
The leaders explained that this land loss was not just an economic issue; it was a betrayal of the promises made in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They explained that the Treaty was supposed to protect Māori tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty, self-determination), including their right to their lands. The loss of land, they explained, was a direct assault on their culture, identity, and mana.
L - Link: A Call for Justice
The march linked the historical evidence of land loss directly to a call for present-day action. By walking the length of the island, they physically linked the land to the seat of power in Wellington. The final link was their demand: that the government honour the Treaty, protect the remaining Māori land, and begin a process of redress for past injustices. This led directly to the creation of the Waitangi Tribunal.
He Mahi (Practice Your Skills)
Now that you have seen a breakdown of the argument, it's your turn to analyze the primary source material yourself. The following handout contains excerpts from the 1975 Memorial of Right and a worksheet to help you build your own PEEL paragraph.
Open the Analysis WorksheetCritical Thinking
Why was using a structured, evidence-based argument like this more powerful than simply expressing anger or frustration? How did the PEEL structure help make their case to the government and the public?