- MD
Sidestep: Do Maori still exist?
This is a controversial question but treat it as an exercise in simply exploring roots and identity, regardless of race. However, first understand that there never was a Maori nation, but there were a collection of tribes all around the country, collectively referred to as Maori. They were often in conflict with each other. Defining ‘Maori’ was to allow for a reference point when discussing Pakeha, its origins and meaning in today’s society. The Maori used the word to describe themselves, as opposed to the ‘different’, European settlers, during the nineteenth century, and the Europeans in turn adopted it some 70 years later. Before the time of the arrival of Europeans, Maori had no name for themselves as a group or race, only a number of tribal names. ‘Maori’ is a derivative from ‘tangata Maori’ meaning ordinary people, referring to the descendants of the country’s first immigrants. The term ‘Maori’ relates closely to ‘tangata Whenua’: people of the land; but with connotations of ‘those who were here first'.
'Maori' arrived at different times from different islands to take up residence in different parts of the land before spreading out within it. Maori, even now, are still not a united people, they are a collection of tribes, still disagreeing with each other over many matters just like everyone else in this country.
First let us examine a particular area of NZ, the South Island. Some Ngai Tahu say that Kati Mamoe and Waitaha no longer exist as there are now absorbed into the Ngai Tahu tribe and no longer distinct. I hope they hold to that view, because in a way they are correct…unless one can recount their whakapapa back beyond when Ngai Tahu came from the north to conquer the south.
Ngai Tahu didn’t come to live with them, they came to conquer them and that they did. It was nothing like "Hey, can come we live on your land?" Many died, some were eaten, some enslaved and the rest integrated. That’s just the way Maori lived a few hundred years ago and it’s no better or worse than any other race worldwide at one point or another. I don't know why Maori are afraid to accept that. Are they ashamed now? They shouldn't be, for that was just the way it was.
So while knowing your roots is important, it is true that a distinct pure race of Waitaha is no longer possible. The same can be said of Kati Mamoe. In the case of the Mamoe it all occurred in less than 100 years. The Moriori also have no true full blooded Moriori living after Tommy Solomon died in 1933.
The treaty was signed with those people that existed in 1840. Tangata Maori, not Tangata Whenua. Over the years it was amended to ½ blood due to plenty of intermarriages. Now, it has changed to if you have a tiny fraction, the treaty applies to you. It means you are regarded as Maori even with an almost total dilution. It is a ‘faint blood' connection. That's ok, many French would be excited to find they had 5% Swedish for example, but they wouldn't identify as Swedish - would they?
3 old photos reveal slight differences. Even today the last 3 all have Maori blood in varying degrees of percentage.
All images were freely available on the internet.
My roots are essentially European. But I don’t celebrate nor claim that anymore. I don't wear a kilt, I don't sing in the welsh highlands, and I don't talk with a cockney accent, and I don't speak Danish. I have no royal connection that matters , but I might claim a connection to one of them if there was money in it, but there isn’t. I was born on this land and became a New Zealander. I have British Isles blood but I do not claim to be of British heritage even though there is that mix of blood in there. I am fully New Zealander because I was born here. I do not regard myself as English, European or even Pakeha. Of course some will say I’m not an original inhabitant. Either are Maori, and we’ve covered this many times already. But one of the meanings of Tangata Whenua is that you are born here. More on that another time.
But if it is true what some Ngai Tahu say “that due to conflict and intermarriage these groups (Waitaha and Kati Mamoe) have become incorporated into Ngai Tahu, and are no longer distinct" then here is a clanger for you - Maori are no longer distinct as a race. They exist only in legislation. They do not live as they once did, eat, walk, fish, hunt, house themselves or dress as they once did. That is ok, for I don’t do the same as my ancestors from the 1600’s either. That is why I am a kiwi living in 2016, with 2016 ideals and luxuries. I don’t long for horse transport, and stone houses on windswept hills with no heating or medicines… or no education.
Moriori are no longer a distinct race of people. The last full blooded Moriori died in 1933. There are no full blooded Maori anymore therefore Maori are no longer a distinct race of people. I read on Maaori.com that someone said those that say that are perpetuating a racist myth for they see it as something coming from Europeans. They said "all Maori are full blooded". Mmmm, I guess the obvious isn't obvious to all and they know little of genetics - but the spiritual connection is strong in this one...and that should be applauded!
Maori was never was a real word, it was only first used by 'Maori' in 1815 to distinguish the European from the 'ordinary people' - for that is what the word actually means. However, Maori are not an 'ordinary' people, they are an 'extraordinary' people, so I am not sure why they continue to use the term. Maori never were a distinct race, they were and are a collection of tribes. But accepting the term in its intended meaning is no problem, except there are no 'Maori' in existence without mixed blood. Correctly then, it means you are of Maori 'descent'. Saying you are Maori as opposed to being of Maori descent is like telling a Chinese boy born here he's Chinese. He'll tell you he's a Kiwi of Chinese descent. He identifies with his current state. It's the same with African Americans - they don't call themselves Biafran or Kongalese (old terms), they refer to who they are.... Afro American - Americans of African descent.
This isn't a beat up of origin, it is trying to be clearer on racial proportion. Someone with 1/16th German blood will not refer to themselves as German, but of German descent (and French, Canadian, Tongan and European etc). Now if those race mixes all applied, which descent is he the most dominant in? Of course NZ legislation means you can claim Maori descent no matter how diluted the % is and and that is probably the correct thing to do. It must be awesome to have a spiritual connection to 700 years of history in this land, because I feel 100% disconnected from my ancestors homeland and 1400 years of history, and yet 100% connected to all in this land since my ancestors arrived, and more spiritual connection to this land than any [NZ'er or Maori] who decides to quit the country and live overseas. I mentioned both in the way others term them because it's not race or blood, it's about heart and spiritual connection. That is a principle of the Waitaha.
Mr. John Clark, a past Race Relations Conciliator of Maori and who is of Maori descent once said “Maori today are a people as one sees in legislation”. Maori are no longer the distinct race of people that signed the Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. There is too much foreign blood in all Maori today for the Waitangi Tribunal or Government to attempt to compensate one group of New Zealand Citizen at the expense of the others. Maori have intermarried with people of other races of their own free will until today; they have become a people of many mixed races, far removed from their Tangata Maori ancestors. This is confirmed by the need to continually change the legal definition of Maori since the 1865 Native Land Act as their ancestry became further and further diluted with other races. With the intermarriage between the races, the Native Land Act of 1865 defined a Maori as, “An aboriginal native and shall include all half-castes and their descendants by a native”. As Maori have continued to intermarry with other races of their own free will, their Maori ancestry has become further and further diluted, and so has the legal definition of Maori until today they are defined as, “A person of the Maori race of New Zealand and includes any descendant of such a person”. Maori are no longer the distinct race of people that signed the Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840.
The treaty was for the protection of Maori and for the purpose the creation of a one people of New Zealand. On the 5th of February 1840, Rev Henry Williams read each clause of the Tiriti o Waitangi while Lt. Governor Hobson read the “final English draft” to about 1000 chiefs, their tribes and many Europeans gathered at Waitangi. Every Maori heard the words in their own language… and after the Treaty was read in both languages, there followed a five hour discussion on its meaning with some chiefs rejecting it while others supported it. (Even back then there was disagreement between Maori on what was best). Those who identify as Maori have never ever been a united people. They cannot be based on their heritage and culture where war and utu determined what was best. So, at the end of the meeting, Hobson told the chiefs he would meet again on the 7th February with those that wanted to sign. All the chiefs then retired to the Te Tii Marae with the missionaries to discuss it well into the night, eventually coming to the decision that it was in their best interest to sign it. Hear me… they all agreed it was in their best interests after discussing the [Maori] version which was read out again and again. As Rev Henry Williams recalls, “We gave them but one version, explaining clause by clause, showing the advantages to them of being taken under the fostering care of the British Crown, by which act they would become one people with the British, in suppression of wars, and every lawless act; under one sovereignty and one law - human and divine.”
Some Maori chiefs then, after a long discussion, willingly signed this treaty on behalf of all within their tribes… for one end purpose, under one law. The same law equally applied to any white New Zealander and still does. And while those elected to do so will continue to shell out millions to fix grievances which will ever be fixed, something has changed - Maori are no longer a distinct race. Therefore if the treaty keeps being amended to include 1/16th blood portions, the treaty is no longer the treaty that was signed because Maori no longer exist as they were, or the way they were. And that is true of the Europeans at the time as well. The way ordinary New Zealanders live now is very different to 1840.
We have to grow up as a nation or forever be dragged into unnecessary and bitter wrangling that is just a throwback to the bitter wrangling Maori have always had within their entire history in this land. Yes, roots are very important, as a connection to the past. But that connection had prevented many from moving forward. Maori find it hard to forgive, that is why utu was a real and normal part of life (or in this case death) but somewhere and sometime it has to end. "But the grievances..." Yes, I hear you. There are grievances but how about fixing up the prior grievances between tribes. Will Ngai Tahu ever compensate Waitaha? Never! Yet get this...... Waitaha (who never signed the treaty) did receive a payout from the tribunal. See how confusing the whole treaty issue is! It's a gravy train.
Back to the title. Do Maori exist? No, not as they were. But their mixed race descendants do. Not as nation - but as individual tribes, just as they were when Europeans arrived. In 1840 there was. In 2016 they are more correctly of Maori 'descent'. To be 1/16th and call yourself Maori is just fooling yourself if your dominant bloodline is German, or Tongan, or even English. The same goes for any English person whose descendants married other races here. This is not taking away from your roots at all, that is an important part of who we are as individuals, it's establishing your strongest heritage if you do not count yourself as a New Zealander. Culture though, that is different, I am talking blood connection and land connection.
Because in the end, what we all are in 2016 is the same thing... New Zealanders, regardless of our colour. Well, that's the way it should be, certain 'political' Maori seem to want that dismantled.
