Brief Māori history.

A comprehensive understanding of New Zealand's history, particularly the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840 and its aftermath, is crucial for all Aotearoa residents, regardless of their ethnic background. The treaty, intended to create a partnership between the British Crown and Maori chiefs, has had enduring consequences that shape the nation today. The impact of colonisation on Māori is an integral part of New Zealand's narrative. Non-Māori need to recognise this shared history to foster a more inclusive and empathetic society. Acknowledging the injustices and historical grievances is fundamental for reconciliation and building a stronger collective identity.

The effects of colonisation, the displacement of land, enduring trauma, and systemic oppression significantly shaped the educational experiences of Māori. The implementation of New Zealand's educational system served as a means to assimilate Māori, aiming to erase their cultural values and beliefs. Grasping the significance of these historical events is crucial for future kaiako to comprehend the persistent underachievement of Māori within the present education system. As aspiring kaiako, it is imperative that we familiarise ourselves with New Zealand's colonial history and actively strive to contribute to positive change in the future.

Below are some excellent videos that explain New Zealand's history prior to the arrival of Europeans and after.

Pre-Erupoean contact.

Around 5,000 years ago, Polynesian people embarked on a voyage along the South-East Asian coast, leading to the development of ocean-going waka, (specialised canoes designed for traversing the open ocean). Aotearoa, the last group of islands discovered by Polynesians, holds a significant place in various versions of ancestral migration stories. Multiple waves of migration are believed to have brought around 12-25 waka, carrying approximately 150 people each. Māori oral traditions speak of fleets of waka arriving from Hawaiki, a spiritually significant place encompassing islands near Tahiti and Rarotonga. Additionally, the Moriori trace their lineage to the same ancestors as Māori. The scarcity of food sources led to warfare among tribes, leading Māori to construct Pā, fortified settlements near crops and food sources. This era saw the development of oral traditions reinforcing Māori connections to the land, emphasising the arrival of their ancestors. Over time, Māori developed unique traditions, distinct from their Polynesian roots.

European contact.

The era of European exploration brought about a period marked by colonisation, exploitation, and oppression of non-European populations. Abel Tasman arrived in Aotearoa during the same period as the Atlantic slave trade and colonisation of the Americas. Tasman's lack of cultural sensitivity led to misunderstandings and a failure to engage with Māori appropriately. It would be over a century before Māori encountered another European, with Captain Cook's arrival in 1769. Cook, accompanied by Tupaea, aimed to engage with Māori, fostering trade and cultural understanding peacefully. Cook asserted British ownership, initiating a wave of European arrivals in 1810, including whalers and sealers who traded with Māori. The introduction of muskets marked the onset of devastating musket wars, altering the course of Aotearoa's history.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Tensions arose in Kororāreka as missionaries and rangatira were distressed by the behaviour of British subjects. Reports of abusive treatment by British individuals, coupled with incidents of underage prostitution involving sailors and young Māori girls, prompted a joint appeal from rangatira and missionaries. James Busby was dispatched to address the issues. The collaboration between rangatira, Busby, and missionaries resulted in the formation of the United Tribes of New Zealand. Faced with the threat of French colonisation, the British recognised the independence of the United Tribes. Subsequently, the British government grappled with the idea of colonising Aotearoa. While some advocated for colonisation, missionaries feared the potential harm to the Māori population. Eventually, William Hobson arrived to negotiate the Treaty of Waitangi. However, discrepancies between the English and Māori versions of the treaty, compounded by translation issues, led to misunderstandings.

The Māori version promised Tino Rangatiratanga (chiefly authority or self-government), while the English version implied complete Crown control. The resulting conflicts, known as the New Zealand Wars, erupted as Māori resisted perceived overreach by the British. H

The effects of the New Zealand land wars.

PART 1

Land disputes in New Zealand meant British troops were to forcibly remove Māori from their land, transferring it to colonists. By the late 1850s, with nearly 60,000 Pākehā settlers in New Zealand, Māori felt the intensifying pressure for land. Recognising the inadequacy of the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori formed the Kiingitanga movement. His successor, faced problematic land deals in Taranaki, leading to conflict. Governor Grey fabricated a plot, resulting in the massive deployment of troops and the Waikato War, the largest New Zealand conflict. Despite Grey's overwhelming forces, the Kiingitanga warriors engaged in significant battles, such as at Ōrakau Pā and Gate Pā, where they successfully employed anti-artillery defence tactics. The war ended with Grey and General Cameron redirecting efforts to Tauranga, with further conflicts and negotiations. The furious British authorities, deceived by Grey, withdrew troops from New Zealand, shifting the responsibility to Pākehā settlers and Māori allies.

At the same time, religion played an increasingly prominent role in the ongoing land conflicts.

PART 2

The frustrations and fears stemming from land confiscation fueled support for religious movements among Māori as a perceived solution to the conflict. While these movements, like Pai Mārire, initially advocated for peaceful resistance, they eventually escalated into brutal conflicts. Te Ua Haumene, a Māori prophet, founded Pai Mārire in response to tensions over land and his disillusionment with European missionaries' teachings. As settlers occupied confiscated land, conflicts intensified, marked by the killing of British troops by Pai Mārire warriors. The settlers viewed Pai Mārire as a violent threat, leading to the Taranaki campaign. The New Zealand Wars involved not only Europeans but also Māori fighting against each other due to inter-tribal tensions and disagreements about the new faith's impact on traditional leadership. Te Kooti, exiled to the Chatham Islands, founded Ringatū and returned to the mainland initiating a guerrilla campaign. Meanwhile, Titokowaru attempted pacifism but faced continued land confiscation, leading to fortified Pā and significant casualties for British troops.

By 1872, the New Zealand Wars concluded after over 20 years, leaving a devastating toll of around 3,000 lives lost, with over 2,000 being Māori. The aftermath weakened Māori resistance to colonization through force.

Education for Māori.

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand, the education of Māori children was a collective effort involving both the home and the community. They acquired language and behavioural norms from their grandparents and parents. Within the community, they honed skills in activities such as fishing, hunting, gardening, house-building, cooking, mat-making, and basketry. Proficient experts provided instruction in more intricate arts like wood-carving and tattooing, while sons of chiefs and priest received education in tribal law within a designated structure called the Whare-wānanga.
During the initial missionary period, Māori actively sought Pākehā-style education with the hope of broadening their perspectives and acquiring 'Pākehā wisdom' to pursue traditional aspirations. After the Treaty of Waitangi and the rapid arrival of settlers, they pursued this knowledge as a means of countering the threat posed by settlers to their sovereignty and resources. In the later part of the century, their motivation for seeking education shifted towards survival and success in a Pākehā-dominated world. Education tended to reinforce their subordinate status in their own land, serving as a tool to advance Pākehā economic and political interests and assimilate Māori culture. By the early 20th century, a significant number of Māori had succumbed to despondency, and a pattern of underachievement in education became deeply ingrained. This represented a stark contrast to the enthusiasm and competence that characterised Maori responses to schooling a century earlier.

Written by Judith Simon (1992): Read more about this here.

A comprehensive article written by Ross Calman (2012) can be found here. He explains New Zealand's education history in detail.

Education for Māori today.

As you may be aware, there are many government initiatives aimed at improving the education outcomes of Māori students. The underperformance of Māori students in education is a matter of significant concern. Māori students are more prone to leaving school prematurely or without attaining qualifications compared to non-Māori. The lower average literacy achievements observed among Māori students at the primary level continue to have a ripple effect throughout the education system. They also exhibit a lower likelihood of enrolling in tertiary education. Moreover, their suspension rates are three to five times higher than those of other students, and they are disproportionately represented in special education programs addressing behavioural issues.

Research indicates that the primary factor contributing to Māori underachievement is the cultural disparity between mainstream values, as reflected in the education system, and Māori cultural values.

Therefore, as kaiako pitomata, understanding Te Reo Māori and Māori culture is essential for developing cultural competence. This knowledge enables kaiako to engage effectively with Māori students and their families, fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. Furthermore, learning Te Reo Māori allows kaiako to connect more authentically with Māori students and their communities. It demonstrates respect for the culture and contributes to stronger teacher-student relationships. Incorporating te reo Māori and Māori cultural elements into teaching practices makes education more relevant for Māori students. It helps create a curriculum that reflects the diverse identities of all students, promoting a sense of belonging. Therefore, understanding Māori culture is crucial for addressing educational disparities. Teachers equipped with knowledge of Te Reo Māori are better positioned to create equitable learning opportunities and support Māori students in overcoming challenges.

Reference list:

The Aotearoa History Show. https://www.youtube.com/@TheAotearoaHistoryShow/videos

Hargraves, V. (2022). Seven principles to effectively support Māori students as Māori. The education hub. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/seven-principles-to-effectively-support-maori-students-as-maori/#:~:text=M%C4%81ori%20underachievement%20is%20of%20critical,to%20enrol%20in%20tertiary%20education.

Johnston, M. (2022). A TALE OF TWO CRISES IN EDUCATION. The New Zealand Initiative. https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/new-opinion-230/

Simon, J. (1992). European style schooling for Maori: The first century. Access, 11(2), 77-87. https://pesaagora.com/access-archive-files/ACCESSAV11N2_077.pdf

Calman, R. (2012). Māori education – mātauranga. Te Ara. https://teara.govt.nz/en/maori-education-matauranga/print

Te reo Māori for the classroom