The Maori, the indigenous population of New Zealand, lived in isolation for a long time until the Europeans found New Zealand in their expeditions and made it useful for themselves. Far-reaching conflicts ensued, in the course of which the Maori people were visibly disadvantaged and decimated over decades. The paper will, among other things, clarify how the conflict with the white people of European descent (pakeha) came about and why the Maoris talk about the Cheaty of Waitangi when they talk about the most far-reaching treaty in their history. It is important to look at the historical circumstances and to see the Maori situation today in context. Furthermore, it should be clarified to what extent the government is trying to come to terms with the injustice that has occurred to the Maori people and whether the situation is currently changing, for example.