🥝History of New Zealand Unit 4 – Colonial NZ: Māori Resistance

Key Events and Timeline

• 1769: James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand initiates European contact with Māori
• 1814: Establishment of the first Christian mission in New Zealand by Samuel Marsden
• 1840: Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and Māori chiefs
  • Sovereignty ceded to the British while Māori retained ownership of their lands and resources
  • Māori granted rights of British subjects
• 1845-1872: New Zealand Wars, a series of conflicts between Māori and British colonial forces
  • Conflicts arose due to disputes over land, sovereignty, and cultural differences
• 1858: Establishment of the Māori King Movement (Kīngitanga) to unite Māori tribes and resist British encroachment
• 1863: New Zealand Settlements Act passed, allowing confiscation of Māori land deemed "rebellious"
• 1881: Parihaka peaceful resistance movement led by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi

Māori Society Pre-Colonization

• Māori society was organized into iwi (tribes), hapū (subtribes), and whānau (extended families)
• Māori practiced a subsistence economy based on agriculture, fishing, and hunting
  • Cultivated crops such as kūmara (sweet potato), taro, and yams
  • Developed advanced horticultural techniques, including terracing and irrigation
• Māori had a rich oral tradition, passing down knowledge, history, and culture through stories, songs, and carvings
• Māori believed in a complex spiritual world, with atua (gods) and ancestral spirits playing a significant role
  • Concept of tapu (sacred or prohibited) and noa (ordinary or unrestricted) governed many aspects of life
• Warfare between tribes was common, often driven by disputes over land, resources, and mana (prestige)
  • Pā (fortified villages) were constructed for defense
• Māori society was stratified, with rangatira (chiefs) holding authority and mana

European Arrival and Initial Interactions

• Early encounters between Māori and Europeans were characterized by curiosity, trade, and cultural exchange
  • Māori traded food, water, and other resources for European goods (muskets, metal tools)
• Sealers, whalers, and traders began establishing temporary settlements along the coast
• Missionaries arrived in the early 19th century, seeking to convert Māori to Christianity
  • Māori were interested in literacy and new technologies introduced by missionaries
• Some Māori began to adopt European clothing, tools, and farming practices
• Introduction of muskets significantly impacted Māori warfare and power dynamics between tribes
• European diseases (influenza, measles) caused significant population decline among Māori, who lacked immunity

Treaty of Waitangi and Its Implications

• The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840, between the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs
• The treaty had English and Māori versions, leading to differences in interpretation
  • English version: Māori ceded sovereignty to the British Crown
  • Māori version: Māori retained tino rangatiratanga (chieftainship) over their lands, villages, and treasures
• The treaty granted Māori the rights and privileges of British subjects
• Māori believed they were entering a partnership with the British, while the British saw it as a means to establish colonial rule
• The treaty's ambiguity and differences in interpretation led to ongoing disputes and conflicts
• The British used the treaty to justify the establishment of a colonial government and the acquisition of Māori land

Land Disputes and Confiscations

• European settlers' demand for land increased, leading to pressure on Māori to sell
• Some Māori chiefs sold land to Europeans, while others resisted
• The New Zealand Company, a private settlement company, claimed to have purchased large tracts of land from Māori
  • Disputes arose over the validity and extent of these purchases
• The British colonial government used various methods to acquire Māori land, including purchase, confiscation, and legislation
  • Native Land Court established in 1865 to individualize Māori land titles, facilitating sales to Europeans
• The New Zealand Settlements Act of 1863 allowed the confiscation of Māori land from tribes deemed "rebellious"
  • Confiscations were used as a punishment for Māori resistance and to secure land for European settlement
• Confiscations led to widespread landlessness and poverty among Māori, as well as ongoing grievances

Māori Resistance Strategies

• Māori employed various strategies to resist British colonization and land alienation
• Some Māori engaged in armed resistance, leading to the New Zealand Wars (1845-1872)
  • Notable conflicts include the Waikato War (1863-1864) and the Taranaki Wars (1860-1861, 1863-1866)
• Māori also used political and diplomatic means to assert their rights and maintain autonomy
  • The Māori King Movement (Kīngitanga) was established in 1858 to unite Māori tribes under a single leader
  • Māori MPs were elected to the New Zealand Parliament, advocating for Māori interests
• Passive resistance movements emerged, such as Parihaka in Taranaki led by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi
  • Protesters engaged in non-violent actions (ploughing disputed land, erecting fences) to assert their land rights
• Māori also sought legal redress through the courts and petitions to the British Crown
  • Māori land claims and grievances were often met with limited success due to the colonial legal system

Notable Māori Leaders and Movements

• Hone Heke: Ngāpuhi chief who led the cutting down of the British flagstaff at Kororāreka in protest of British rule
• Te Rauparaha: Ngāti Toa chief known for his military prowess and expansion of Ngāti Toa territory
• Te Wherowhero: First Māori King and founder of the Kīngitanga Movement, which sought to unite Māori tribes
• Wiremu Tamihana: Ngāti Hauā chief and diplomat who played a key role in the Kīngitanga Movement
• Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki: Rongowhakaata leader who led a guerrilla campaign against colonial forces in the late 1860s
• Rewi Maniapoto: Ngāti Maniapoto chief who led resistance against British forces in the Waikato War
• Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi: Taranaki prophets who led the Parihaka passive resistance movement

Impact on Māori Culture and Society

• British colonization and land alienation had devastating impacts on Māori society and culture
• Māori population declined significantly due to introduced diseases, warfare, and social disruption
  • Estimated Māori population fell from around 100,000 in 1800 to 42,000 by 1896
• Loss of land undermined Māori economic and social structures, leading to poverty and marginalization
  • Traditional Māori land tenure and resource management practices were disrupted
• Suppression of Māori language and cultural practices through assimilationist policies
  • Māori children were often punished for speaking te reo Māori (Māori language) in schools
• Urbanization in the 20th century further disconnected many Māori from their tribal lands and cultural roots
• Despite challenges, Māori culture and identity persisted and adapted
  • Māori cultural renaissance began in the 1970s, promoting language revitalization and cultural pride

Legacy and Modern Implications

• The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand's founding document and continues to shape the nation's politics and identity
• Grievances stemming from breaches of the treaty and colonial injustices persist
  • Waitangi Tribunal established in 1975 to investigate Māori claims and recommend settlements
  • Treaty settlements have provided some redress, but many Māori continue to experience socioeconomic disparities
• Māori activism and advocacy have led to greater recognition of Māori rights and culture
  • Māori language and culture are now officially recognized and promoted
  • Māori concepts (kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga) are increasingly incorporated into New Zealand's legal and social frameworks
• Ongoing efforts to address the legacy of colonization and work towards reconciliation and partnership between Māori and non-Māori
• Māori continue to assert their rights to self-determination and tino rangatiratanga, as guaranteed by the Treaty of Waitangi