New Zealand -Maori

Facts -Ethnologists estimated that the date of the first Polynesian contact in New Zealand was 750 AD -In New Zealand 2006 census, people identified themselves as being Maori. This is around 14% of New Zealand’s population. -On Average they are poorer then the other New Zealanders, They have high unemployment rates.

On average: Maori’s are usually poorer then the other New Zealanders have high unemployment rates Make up 50% of prison population Poorer health Higher suicide rates Lower levels of education Lower Life Expectancy

The Colonization First person to reach new Zealand was Abel Tasman in Captain James Cook sighted New Zealand on 6 th October Queen Charlotte sound on 30 January 1770, Captain James cook made proclamations that attempted to establish British claims over New Zealand. James Busby was appointed to the position of British Resident and arrived in the Bay of Islands in His instructions were to protect ‘well disposed settlers and traders’ and prevent ‘outrages’ by Europeans against Maori. 1 Year later, Busby organized a gathering of chiefs at Waitangi to choose a national flag to fly on New Zealand-built trading ships. He regarded this as a first step towards the federation of chiefs. A declaration of Independence of New Zealand was drawn up by Busby in 1835 which asserted the independence of New Zealand with all the sovereign power and authority resting with the hereditary chiefs and tribes. The declaration was eventually signed by 52 Maori chiefs.

The Treaty Of Waitangi In 1839, William Hobson was appointed by the British government as a consul to New Zealand. His job was to obtain sovereignty with the consent of a ‘sufficient number’ of chiefs. The treaty was signed on 6 th Feb 1840 by 40 chiefs. By September 500 had been signed. Two Versions of the treaty – Maori and English. Weren’t identical so there were problems of interpretation. The Treaty was to protect rights and property.

Waitangi Tribunal - The Waitangi Tribunal was to hear grievances against the Crown concerning the breaches of the Treaty. (Especially where the two texts are different) -It required to settle the differences by looking at the ‘principles’ or the spirit of the treaty. -The powers of the Waitangi tribunal were increased in 1985 to investigate treaty breaches dating back to The Waitangi tribunal made important determinations on matters than just land. Eg – In the treaty of Waitangi it guarantee’s Maori rights to fish. Although as time passed the government began to regulate commercial fisheries. The Waitangi tribunal provided a foreign to evaluate and settle the claim it produced a report with recommendations in conjunction with other reports which established facts and findings that supported the negotiations. -They found that it was breaching the Waitangi treaty principles because it was denying some Maori access to the fishery resources and its benefits. The settlement was finalised in 1992 and saw the Maori allocated 23% of fisheries quota and 20% of the new species brought under the quota system. More shares then fishing companies + 18million in cash. -Estimated that total settlement was worth 170mil $.

Maori Language In 1983 the Waitangi Tribunal had a claim in relation to the protection of Maori language. Tribunal made a recommendations in Maori became an official language of New Zealand in A Maori language commission was established that year. There has been a recovery in the use of Maori language and more people speak it today then generations ago. So, there are now Maori language schools, Maori radio stations and Maori television station.

Timeline! 1987 – Maori becomes an official language