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Maori Introduction | ||
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The Maori people came to New Zealand about a thousand years ago from the Polynesian islands (see map in the Geography unit). While some westerners have depicted this discovery as accidental, in reality the Maori ancestors were skilled navigators who used the stars to travel both to and from New Zealand. The importance of heavenly navigation is reflected in the New Zealand flag which depicts the south cross constellation. The Maori culture was a highly sophisticated culture which centered upon village life and complex trading and waring relationships among the 53 tribes. The Maori numbered approximately 115,000 when New Zealand was “discovered” by the western world, primary through the sailing journeys of Captain Cook in 1769. He made several journeys to New Zealand, spreading the word of its existence back in Europe. The French were also interested in New Zealand and they too made exploratory journeys. Missionaries had come to New Zealand in 1814 and they joined a small but growing European population called “pakeha” by the local Maori. Knowing that they would soon be claimed for one of the colonial powers, the Maori approached the British Crown and in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. The treaty was signed by over 500 Maori chiefs and the British claimed territorial rule over the north island. In a “close” call, several years later the British learned that the French were sailing to the south island to claim this as a French Territory. This was narrowly averted in the town of Akaroa and the arriving French vessel was bitterly disappointed that they had lost the race by a few days. While the Treaty of Waitangi guaranteed certain rights to the Maori, the following 125 years were not easy ones for them. Lands were preemptively taken for the good of the crown, or were purchased at ridiculously low prices. Their culture was not recognized and the missionaries converted wide swaths of the population to Christianity. During the first part of the 20th century, speaking Maori was not allowed in schools and the language and culture of the Maori teetered upon the edge of extinction. The possibility of losing their entire culture was recognized by a small group of older Maori women who began creating language nest pre-schools where they spoke to the children only in Maori. Since the beginning of the language nests in the 1970’s the government of New Zealand has begun to rectify some of the injustices that were imposed upon the Maori. Maori is now an official second language and a system of Maori schools has now been created. Curriculum materials have been translated and aspects of the Maori culture are taught throughout all of New Zealand’s schools. Concurrent to the development of the language nests has been an active legal fight by Maori tribes to either reclaim their tribal lands or to receive adequate compensation for them from the Land Courts which have been established to examine the claim of each tribe. For the purpose of this curriculum, the issues discussed here are not covered in detail. Extensive websites are listed both within the lesson units and in the back of the curriculum. If you are interested in a more in-depth examination of New Zealand’s history you are encouraged to make use of this resource list. Brief overviews of New Zealand can be obtained from these websites. World Fact Book: www.cia.gov | ||
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