Race Relations in New Zealand, 1815-1845

Abstract

For many years it has been the firm conviction of a number of New Zealanders that though there are two races in their country, there is but one people. Nevertheless the facts of race prejudice are to be seen plainly in many parts of New Zealand today. These prejudices are not colour prejudices resulting from the physical differences between the Maori and pakeha, but cultural prejudices based on underlying conflicts between the two races in "economic and religious matters which revolve round surface issues of tastes and manners and customs". They are social attitudes which have a history, and which cannot be fully comprehended if they are divorced from their past. Their foundations lie in the history of the relations of the traders, the missionaries and the settlers with the Maori race in the years preceding the outbreak of the Maori wars and the consequent retreat of the Maori from close contact with the pakeha. If there is one outstanding fact that emerges from this history of culture conlict in New Zealand, it is the tenacity with which the Maori has clung to his own way of life. The material culture of his race has been largely replaced by that of the pakeha, but the change is in form, in externals, only. His social conditions have been profoundly influenced by the juxtaposition of European ones, and his code of morality has been adjusted to the western one of Christian ethics. But the Maori is still the Maori, tribal organisation still persists, native social customs still influence the lives of the people, and the elements of the ancient hierarchy of class continue to bring prestige and deference to the rangatira families. Psychologically, the Maori remains much the same as his ancestors six or more generations ago, and his ancient character structure still persists.