The MaoriThe Maori

ArrivalArrival

• Several waves of Several waves of migration came migration came from Eastern from Eastern Polynesia to New Polynesia to New Zealand between Zealand between AD 800 and 1300. AD 800 and 1300.

• Māori oral history Māori oral history describes the describes the arrival of ancestors arrival of ancestors from Hawaiki (a from Hawaiki (a mythical homeland mythical homeland in tropical in tropical Polynesia) in large Polynesia) in large ocean-going ocean-going canoes. canoes.

OriginsOrigins

•Most Pacific Most Pacific populations populations originated in originated in Taiwan Taiwan around 5,200 around 5,200 years agoyears ago

• The ancestors of the The ancestors of the Māori arrived in a Māori arrived in a forested land which forested land which featured abundant featured abundant birdlife, including birdlife, including the now extinct Moa the now extinct Moa species and the species and the giant Haast’s Eagle giant Haast’s Eagle which preyed upon which preyed upon the moa. the moa.

• As Māori continued As Māori continued in geographic in geographic isolation, performing isolation, performing arts such as the arts such as the haka traditional haka traditional dance developed dance developed from their Polynesian from their Polynesian roots, as did carving roots, as did carving and weaving. and weaving.

Maori ArtMaori Art

TatoosTatoos

MAORIMAORI TATTOOTATTOO

•

Instead of needles, the Maori people used knives and chisels (uhi), either smooth or serrated, and the ink was applied by means of incisions. The uhi was made from an albatross bone. The black fill was derived from burnt wood.

Maori tattooing would usually start at adolescence, and was used to celebrate important events throughout life.

The first tattoo marks the transition from childhood to adulthood and was done during a series of rites and rituals.

People without tattoos were considered to be without status or worth.

Maori tattoos were meant to be more than decorative – they were a show of strength, courage and status. (it is an insult for other races to wear these!)

MythsMyths

European contactEuropean contact

• European settlement European settlement of New Zealand of New Zealand occurred in relatively occurred in relatively recent historical recent historical times. times.

• By 1830, estimates By 1830, estimates placed the number of placed the number of Europeans living Europeans living among the Māori as among the Māori as high as 2,000. high as 2,000.

• European New European New Zealanders are Zealanders are referred to as Pakehareferred to as Pakeha

The Musket WarsThe Musket Wars

• During the period During the period from 1805 to 1840 from 1805 to 1840 the acquisition of the acquisition of muskets upset the muskets upset the balance of power balance of power among Māori tribes, among Māori tribes, leading to a period leading to a period of bloody inter-of bloody inter-tribal warfare, tribal warfare, known as the known as the Musket WarsMusket Wars

Population droppingPopulation dropping

• European diseases European diseases such as influenza such as influenza and measles also and measles also killed an unknown killed an unknown number of Māori: number of Māori: estimates vary estimates vary between ten and between ten and fifty per cent. fifty per cent.

British involvementBritish involvement

• With increasing Christian With increasing Christian missionary activity, missionary activity, growing European growing European settlement and the settlement and the perceived lawlessness of perceived lawlessness of Europeans in New Europeans in New Zealand, the British Zealand, the British Crown, as a world power, Crown, as a world power, came under pressure to came under pressure to intervene intervene

• Queen Victoria annexed Queen Victoria annexed New Zealand by royal New Zealand by royal proclamation in January proclamation in January 1840. 1840.

Treaty of WaitangiTreaty of Waitangi

• The British negotiated The British negotiated the Treaty of Waitangi the Treaty of Waitangi with northern chiefs. with northern chiefs. Other Māori chiefs Other Māori chiefs subsequently signed subsequently signed this treaty. this treaty.

• But, in the end, only But, in the end, only 500 chiefs out of the 500 chiefs out of the 1500 sub-tribes of 1500 sub-tribes of New Zealand signed New Zealand signed the Treaty the Treaty

Only a minority signOnly a minority sign

• Some influential Some influential chiefs — such as chiefs — such as TeTe Wherwhero in Wherwhero in Waikato, and Te Waikato, and Te Kani-a-Takirau Kani-a-Takirau from the east coast from the east coast of the North Island of the North Island — refused to sign — refused to sign

• The treaty made the Māori British The treaty made the Māori British subjects in return for a guarantee of subjects in return for a guarantee of Māori property-rights and tribal Māori property-rights and tribal autonomyautonomy

• Dispute continues over whether the Dispute continues over whether the Treaty of Waitangi ceded Māori Treaty of Waitangi ceded Māori sovereignty. Māori chiefs signed a Māori-sovereignty. Māori chiefs signed a Māori-language version of the Treaty that did language version of the Treaty that did not accurately reflect the English-not accurately reflect the English-language version. language version.

The Land WarsThe Land Wars

• In the 1860s, Maori In the 1860s, Maori disputes to land dealings disputes to land dealings were viewed as a were viewed as a challenge to the British challenge to the British system of royalty and led system of royalty and led to the New Zealand Land to the New Zealand Land Wars. Wars.

• The colonial government The colonial government confiscated large tracts of confiscated large tracts of tribal land as punishment tribal land as punishment for what they called for what they called rebellion in some cases rebellion in some cases taking land even from taking land even from tribes which had taken no tribes which had taken no part in the war. part in the war.

The Land CourtThe Land Court

• The Native Land Acts of The Native Land Acts of 1862 and 1865 set up 1862 and 1865 set up the Native Land Court, the Native Land Court, which had the purpose which had the purpose of breaking down of breaking down communal ownership communal ownership and facilitating the and facilitating the taking of land. As a taking of land. As a result, between 1840 result, between 1840 and 1890 Māori lost 95 and 1890 Māori lost 95 per cent of their land.per cent of their land.

Population declines Population declines

• In 1840, New Zealand In 1840, New Zealand had a Māori population had a Māori population of about 100,000 and of about 100,000 and only about 2,000 only about 2,000 Europeans.Europeans.

• By the end of the 19th By the end of the 19th century, the Māori century, the Māori population had declined population had declined to 42,113 (according to to 42,113 (according to the 1896 census) and the 1896 census) and Europeans numbered Europeans numbered more than 700,000.more than 700,000.

SurvivalSurvival

• The decline of the The decline of the Māori population Māori population did not continue; did not continue; instead levels instead levels recovered. recovered.

• Many Māori Many Māori retained their retained their cultural identitycultural identity. .

MAORI TODAYMAORI TODAY

• Recently the New Recently the New Zealand government Zealand government negotiated with the negotiated with the Māori to provide Māori to provide redress for its failures redress for its failures to honour the Treaty to honour the Treaty of Waitangi. of Waitangi.

• As of 2006 the As of 2006 the government had government had provided over NZ$900 provided over NZ$900 million in settlements, million in settlements, much of it in the form much of it in the form of land deals.of land deals.

Maori Party leadersMaori Party leaders

• In the New Zealand In the New Zealand electoral system electoral system 10% of the seats 10% of the seats are reserved for are reserved for MaoriMaori

• This controversial This controversial system may be system may be abolished in 2014 abolished in 2014 when all the treaty when all the treaty settlements have settlements have been resolved.been resolved.