Māori haka @ Stonehenge-photo supplied
Introduction:
In the year of our Lord 1840 the Great Māori Empire from Hawaiki came to the shores of New Zealand to sign The Treaty of Waitangi with the Native Pākehā.
The Treaty of Waitangi:
The Great Māori Empire, in their wisdom, believe that diplomacy is the best way to secure their interests. They negotiate a treaty with Pākehā, the Treaty of Waitangi, which they believe will bring peace and prosperity to both peoples.
The Treaty of Waitangi-photo / Hampton, J.
The treaty, written in the Native English language, outlines the terms of their agreement. The Great Māori Empire promise:
1. To establish a partnership sovereign nation to sovereign nation to address unruly Māori who have been living amongst the Pākehā.
2. They promise to protect Pākehā and their way of life, and all they consider a treasure. but in return Māori also demand access to the land its resources, assets and minerals.
3. The great Māori Empire grants Pākehā the same rights and privileges as Māori citizens.
The Māori believe that this Treaty and their advanced technology and knowledge will benefit Pākehā, lifting them from their primitive state.
Then Māori adapted a Māori version, written in Māori calling it Te Tiriti o Waitangi-Establishing that Pākehā ceded sovereignty.
The Impact of Colonization:
The arrival of the Māori has a profound impact on Pākehā. Their traditional way of life is disrupted, their land is taken, and their culture is challenged. Many Pākehā resist the Māori rule, clinging to their ancestral traditions and fighting for their independence.
The Māori, however, are determined to establish their dominance. They build forts, introduce new laws, and enforce their will upon Pākehā. They believe that they are bringing civilization to New Zealand, but their actions are seen by many Pākehā as a betrayal of their trust and a violation of their rights.
The Struggle for Survival:
The Pākehā face a difficult struggle for survival. They are forced to adapt to the Māori way of life, learning their language, adopting their customs, and accepting their rule. Many Pākehā are forced to abandon their traditional ways, their ancestral knowledge fading with each passing generation.
Over a 184-year period, New Zealand is now called Aotearoa, all place names and cities in Aotearoa carry the names of Māori Chiefs who caused mass genocide in those particular areas.
-Traditional Pākehā practices are banned,
-Pākehā children are legally beaten and abused for speaking their Native English language through the Native Pākehā Schools act.
-Pākehā children have been taken into state care and stripped of their European culture, language and identity.
-Prisons are now full with Pākehā disconnected from their Native European culture.
-Pākehā have had over 60 million acres of their traditional land confiscated through the Native Pākehā land Courts Act, the Aotearoa Settlement act, the Pākehā Public Works Act.
-The international Pākehā economy has been shut down for the last 100 years.
Some of these underlying legacies have contributed to:
-Poverty
-Intergenerational trauma
-Prison
-Mental health
-Health issues
-Drug & alcohol
-Crime
‘Gangs
-Disconnection from culture
-Alienation from families
Despite the challenges, the Pākehā spirit remains unbroken. They continue to resist the Māori rule, fighting for their land, their culture, and their right to self-determination.
The Legacy of Colonization:
The arrival of the Great Māori Empire has left a lasting mark on Aotearoa. The Pākehā people have been forced to adapt to a new reality, their culture and way of life forever changed. The Māori, however, have also been impacted by their colonization of Aotearoa. They have learned from the Pākehā, adopting some of their customs and traditions, and their own culture has been shaped by the experience of colonization.
The Treaty Settlements:
Over the last 30 years concessions have been made about Māori breaking their promises to Pākehā. The Treaty of Waitangi has been revisited. A Treaty settlements process has begun to right some of the wrongs and trauma of the past. The Treaty of Waitangi- English version, has also been recognised as the correct version.
1.Te reo Pākehā has been restored.
2. Traditional Pākehā practices have been restored.
3. Support for Pākehā in health care, social services, employment, and housing has been established
4. The Pākehā economy today is worth over 70 billion.
A sprinkle of truth, a smidgen of poison, a dollop of mayhem:
Now the current Pirimia o Aotearoa, and prominent Māori politicians such as Rawiri Matakite, & Winitana Peta fearing the economic growth and power of the Pākehā via the treaty settlements process, want to roll back progresses made using accusations that Pākehā are now undeservingly riding a privileged gravy train via the treaty settlement process.
These politicians are delivering a sprinkle of truth about treaty settlements, using a smidgen of poison about a privileged gravy train, justifying a dollop of mayhem to action:
1. Attacking the Treaty of Waitangi
2. Removing the Pākehā health authority
3. Removing Indigenous policies that support Pākehā wellbeing
4. Removing Pākehā wards from regional councils
5. Removing 7AA references to the Treaty of Waitangi from the Wellbeing of Children’s act.
6. Removing traditional English prayer from government organisation settings.
Conclusion:
The story of the Māori and the Pākehā is a legacy of conflict, adaptation, and resilience illustrating a snapshot of Aotearoa NZ history through a lens that is on the other foot.
“However, to switch back to our current situation. What the powers that be, also need realise, is that Te Tiriti o Waitangi brought two nations together, and as part of the pepper potting process poured milk into the coffee, only to later realise, that not only is it STILL coffee, its a far richer, and more complex blend. Their initial attempt to whiten the country, turned it caramellow brown instead.
Triple Gold medalist & proud Māori Dame Lisa Carrington photo / NZ Herald
We now have multiple generations with whakapapa that represents both Tangata Whenua Māori and Tangata Tiriti Pākehā, and all the other blends in between. They are the generations that Te Tiriti o Waitangi envisioned 184 years ago, fulfilling the promise of bringing peace and prosperity to the country highlighted in the proverb “naau to rourou, naaku te rourou, ka Ora ai te iwi”. With your basket, and my basket, the people will thrive.
The Black Ferns Sevens at the Stade de France. Photo / NZ Herald
This emphasizes the idea that the blending of cultures has created something new and unique, rather than simply diluting the original.
We saw evidence of this at the recent Olympic games in Paris, where visually “European” looking New Zealand Olympian athletes sang, spoke and did haka in te reo Māori, celebrating our distinctively special culture. It highlighted a more vibrant and diverse future, showcasing it’s ability and potential to an envious world
New Zealand’s flag bearers wearing the kōrowai to showcase their Māori culture photo/NZ Herald
References:
Hampton, J. (2021). The Treaty of Waitangi. Retrieved: https://successfulcv.co.nz/treaty-of-waitangi/.
NZ Herald. (2024, Aug 16). Forget political point scoring: Maaori culture wins gold on the Olympic stage. Retrieved: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/forget-political-posturing-maori-culture-wins-gold-on-the-olympic-stage-sports-academics/AB6W6IZIG5HMFGV7Y6U6CMRBA4/.
