The Treaty of Waitangi Chart

There are Two charts that most astrologers look at as being symbolic for the formation of New Zealand as a nation. These are the Waitangi and New Zealand Constitution Charts.

The time that many astrologers agree on for the Zealand Constitution Chart is 12.00 AM LMT. Date:- 17. January. 1853, Auckland. With the advent of the first Mixed Member Proportional Parliament we will have a new chart which will be symbolic of what New Zealand is and what New Zealanders are about. In many ways this will supersede the other previous charts. In many ways the other charts will still have relevance.

The Treaty of Waitangi Chart is perhaps the most relevant of the two charts as an analogy for the debate today between the people (meaning all people in New Zealand) and the government. The decisions of government are shadowed by the reactions, responses and initiatives of ordinary New Zealanders, groups and organisations.

Timing

The date of the of the signing of the treaty is confirmed. February 6th, 1840. The time it occurred is open to question. A time for around 12 seems to be about right - give or take up to half an hour either way! I was originally going for a speculative chart for 0.15 PM LMT. After completing an initial draft for this article, I decided to re-check my timing! I did some extra research in the library in regards to this and also read an article by Dennis Frank on the Treaty Of Waitangi. This article was published in an Astrological Society of New Zealand Journal in 1989 (Vol. 58). Dennis Frank gives good reasons for going for a time of around 0.34 PM LMT. Allowing for a margin of error of 15 minutes on either side, I think Dennis is pretty well spot on with his timing for the Waitangi Chart.

Given that Governor Hobson was late and was, according to Ranginui Walker, fetched at noon - I originally estimated a time of around 0.15 PM LMT for the first signatures. When we take into account time differences between now and 1840, the time will be around 0.29 PM LMT. This is not too far off from Dennis' time and I have decided to defer in support of Dennis' timing. (Whether timed for 0.29 or 0.34 PM LMT, there is virtually no difference between either chart, in terms of Houses and planetary positions within these houses).

ISSUES

I regard issues between natives and Crown that were operant when the Treaty was signed to be also operant today. This is in the context of issues to do with basic human rights versus system agendas. Do we have a say in our lives, in what systems we live under and how we live; or do we give all our power away to an elite minority of “experts”, who we deem to have all the answers? This question is being debated by groups such as: Red Cross, Christian Groups, New Agers, Voluntary Organisations, Maori, Unemployed Workers Rights, Students, Peace Groups, Business Groups, Governmental Groups and so forth. These issues are not confined to New Zealand alone but are universal questions, as they are being debated and fought over world- wide. New Zealand is in many ways a microcosm of the energies that are taking place globally.

The Treaty Chart, when put into a 1990s context, may be regarded as a statement of the duality between the past (Piscean Age) and the future (Aquarian Age). The mutual reception between Neptune and Uranus says it all. This is fundamentally not an issue between “us” and “them”, or the advantaged and disadvantaged, or the old and the new but more so one of re-evaluation of the way we have institutionalised things (Pisces) and the need to humanise our structures (Aquarius) so that our power structures/groups serve the interests of all humanity, rather than the few. To completely break away from the past (Aquarius at its most radical) is to invite total anarchy and social chaos. To completely shut off the future and live in an unchanging time bubble (Pisces at its most sheltered and insular) is to invite social atrophy and increase of division. (The haves getting more and the have nots less).

CHALLENGE

The real challenge I believe that our ancestors presented us, as symbolised in the Treaty chart, is how to preserve those qualities of the past that are beneficial to all (powerful and powerless alike) and yet to embrace the challenges of the now in new and innovative ways. I believe the issues of the Treaty Chart are fundamental issues for today. The Treaty Chart lives on. But these are global issues. That is, those of preservation of resources and respect for the positive qualities of leadership, traditions and spirituality and the need to forge a truly democratic society where ordinary people can play a part in the governmental process. Rather than the token democracy that most nations have, where you choose a government to rule and then have very little say in the decision making process thereafter.

MODERN PERSPECTIVE

The Treaty chart can be viewed as a microcosm of the global dialogue between those who seek to be at the top and those who seek to share. Hierarchical versus non- hierarchical. Pisces Age (Power for the few over the many) or Aquarian Age (We are all unique, but also partake of the global family).

In what follows, I will examine some of the pertinent astrological features to be found in the Treaty of Waitangi Chart .

ASTROLOGICAL FEATURES

Sun in Aquarius in the Ninth - Symbolic of the agreement in principle for equal partnership. A partnership, theoretically at least, between equals. Maori and Crown to have an equal say. The Aquarian ideal.

Sun Square Jupiter - The idealism is challenged by the issue of possession, that is shared resources. (Jupiter ruling the Eighth House cusp).

Sun Conjunct Neptune - The Crown (Sun) is constantly shadowed (Neptune) by the past (Leo on fourth House Cusp). This breeds distrust between people and government. A constant awareness of past grievances and distrust, if negatively expressed. If positive, a rebuilding of society based on spiritual values common to all. (Neptune ruling Pisces on the Eleventh cusp).

Sun Sextile Saturn - This is perhaps the saving grace of this chart. The ability of the crown and authoritative bodies to respond to positive developments in the nation. The ability to plan ahead for the future. The potential to work out a new form of government which is one that is more in the original spirit of the Treaty. Therefore:- one of equal partnership and consultation between the ordinary people of our nation and the people who govern this land.

Sun Sextile Pluto - Change is inevitable. Slowly but surely, we have been changing how we run this country.

Mars Conjunct North Node - This might be viewed as the assertive colonialists in single pursuit towards their goals. The Crown as being aggressive in it's aims/agenda.

Jupiter Square Neptune - There is a danger here of unrealistic expectations. For example, an extremist claim that “we” should give the land (all of New Zealand) back to the Maori and get rid of all non-Maori people in New Zealand. (Most People who identify themselves as Maori do not support such a right wing option). Also of returning to some past paradise - how it used to be. Yet it is such unrealistic dreams (Jupiter/Neptune) that radicalise the masses to work towards political change. (Uranus Conjunct Moon in the Tenth).

Saturn Square Uranus - This I translate as The People (Uranus) having problems with authority figures (Saturn). Individuals being radicalised for life. As with many radical Maori activists today who are in the forties plus age bracket. The Pluto in Leo generation. A lifetime of being a thorn in the systems side. Rather than as in the past when people rebelled in their early twenties and then entered “The System” around their Saturn Return.

Venus in the Eighth - Shared resources are an issue. Do we privatise our resources (Venus Sextile Mars in Tenth option) or do we lease these resources whilst retaining ultimate ownership (Mars Sextile Venus in the Eighth option). The later, to my way of thinking, is the more sensible option - if we can disinherit our colonial mentality that is. (The hidden belief that we should be controlled by overseas powers/interests - Saturn in the Eighth in Sagittarius).

Moon Square Saturn - This could be read as the parent being detached or at odds with it's child. In other words the government at odds with it's people, or the rational at odds with feeling.

Moon Conjunct Uranus - People are radicalised by emotional experiences. (Losing land/home. Maori land has been bought, seized or confiscated by the Crown). Many are confused (Pisces) yet with a sense of unity through common shared experience (Tenth House). In the context of 1995 we are all challenged (correlating with Uranus/Moon Square Saturn in the Eighth in Sagittarius in the Treaty Chart) to either accept changes or to propose a better alternative. (For example, Jim Bolger responded at one stage to unanimous rejection by Maori of the governments proposed fiscal envelope by asking Maori for a better alternative to the governments). Negativity on peoples part breeds the same in government/institutions. Where is the positive alternative? This is the real challenge.

Moon Trine Jupiter - Despite anything else, people in New Zealand have had it pretty easy compared to other places in the world. Compared to most other places, we have a good social welfare system and New Zealanders generally have a fairly easy going attitude to life. New Zealanders tend to be sincere and genuine in what they do and love having a good time!

With Uranus going through Aquarius (in the years 1996 - 2003), issues that the Treaty Chart is about will be prevalent in New Zealand. That is issues to do with equality and equal partnership between the New Zealand people and it's government. I am picking that New Zealand will move towards becoming a more truer democracy. Therefore in the true spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi. This should mean the general public being consulted more and listened to by government and local bodies, rather than being told what "is in our best interests" and expected to accept whatever new laws, rules and regulations parliament may cook up for us.

If my analysis is correct, all eyes in the world will soon be watching our social experiment, which will be people driven rather than bureaucratic, and will take many of our politicians/"leaders" by surprise. It is not just a new political system we are entering into (MMP) but a new way of life. Power to the people - but in the true democratic sense!

Note

This article was originally written in 1993.

On October 12th 1996 - New Zealanders voted for a mixed member proportional (MMP) system of government to replace the old First Past the Post System. Many of the issues I have raised in this article in 1993 are still very relevant for today. New Zealand has truly turned out to be a country that has been going through massive social changes since then. I have a feeling that as a nation we are currently in the process of re-evaluating our political and societal values. The possibility for "greater people empowerment" and a "truer democratic system" looms not too far over the horizon.

© Stephen Winder. 

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