Maori Indigenous Group Land Rights and Representation.


Maori are an Indigenous group in New Zealand. Over the years they have had land taken away and not proper representation in parliament. Would you like it if someone came to your house and said “ya, you don't live here ̈


The Beginning

Around 1320-1350 Maori came to New Zealand and settled there. Happy for so many years until, other settlers came and just take over without asking. So not cool right? Imagine someone kicking you out of your bedroom saying “This is my room now, go sleep somewhere else”.


The King Movement
So this taking away land thing is a joke right? Wrong. The King movement is a way to take charge of Maori people and put peace between the Europeans and Maori. Similar to Queen Victoria. However the king movement was and increasing threat to Maori land.


Electing a king Te wherowhero they made a council of state and a Judicial system and police organization. The plan was to assist Maori and keep their land. But plans don't always work do they?


The Land

1860 Maori owned most of the land of the North Island. Now only owning 5%. Now if you made a pie and someone ate all of it and left you the smallest piece wouldn't you be mad too? The North Island is just above the main part of New Zealand. Which is now known as Auckland. The official name is Te Ika-a-Māui.


However in 1850s an increase of immigrants led to high demand for land purchase by the government. You see the Maori didn’t exactly want to sell. However in 1859 Te Teira a Maori of the Taranaki sold his Waitara river land to the colonial Government without permission or approval of his tribe which started a war 1860-1861.





All that trouble just over land and just not asking for permission. What if someone sold your house while you were still living in it. Without your permission. I would be upset and definitely make my voice heard. War maybe not my first choice but the Maori is a different story.




We have seen something similar during the Williams Treaty. The Indigenous people in Canada Chippewas and Mississaugas surrounding Lake Simcoe - 1923 , signed a blank piece of paper to say they can keep their land but in reality they signed off their rights to fish and hunt. Land was taken away in both scenarios.











This video shows the history of settlers. When the Maori came and settled then Europeans came. It also shows migrations over the years and where others migrated to other places such as Australia and Europe. I think this video is a great representation of the history of the land and the settlers who traveled to New Zealand.




Representation

Some Problems are qualifications of electors and getting proper representation in parliament. Sufferage which is the right to vote in electing public officials. Only men were allowed to vote. In the 18th and 19th century there was a property and income qualification. Other countries limit to certain ethnic groups. South Africa and Old South of USA didn’t allow their black populations to vote.






In the mid 19th century the Maori first entered parliament . There are 7/120 seats reserved for the Maori. The National party in 2008 said they would try and get rid of the seats for the Maori when all treaty settlements were resolved. They projected to complete this by 2014. Later the National party agreed with the Maori party to not get rid of the seats without their permission.




Maori In The 21st Century



Maori today they are now recognizing their ancestors and having claims to the family land. They have been recognised as Taangata Whenua (people of the land). Which is good they’ve made process to be recognised on their land and recognise they people before them. Making a change will have a good impact on the people not only the Maori but everyone else since they are both educated. They are now putting more effort to learn the language that was lost and feel more connected to their culture.




Since they are increasingly embracing their language however their is shame with its use. Now, speaking your own language shouldn’t be shamed right. Well in this case the Maori want to feel more connected to their culture but many feel shamed because they don’t feel understood when speaking.




“It’s one of the great regrets of my life, that I haven’t been able to speak Maori or understand it” said one resident, Nancy Rogers, 93 in a nursing home. I would definitely feel out of place and feel like an outsider if I tried to speak and no one could understand me. Feeling like everyone can understand but you.




The thought of “needing” to do it to keep up with the progress of their language and cultural identity. “They used to abuse us a lot,” “because they didn’t know what we were talking about, so I just went right off speaking Maori.” said Kathy Fitzell, 75, a Maori resident at Merivale.




This quote makes me sick. To abuse another human for speaking their language is not right. How would you feel if someone abused you because you spoke your language and others didn’t understand.

Limited vocabulary makes it very difficult to communicate with others and understand one another. So they feel disconnected from their culture. They have taken steps to regain their culture by teaching kids in school the language. Reclaiming the stolen language of their ancestors and fix the disconnection.




Canadian Residential Schools

Canada’s history as many Indigenous people have their culture and language lost just like the Maori.




Indigenous people of Canada have had their land taken away and their culture has been lost over the years. They are now teaching in schools Indigenous languages so they can pass it on to the next generation. I feel it’s a good step to re-teach the language. It makes me happy that they are moving forward and making a difference. Wouldn’t you be happy if you were taught the language of your ancestors?




As 80% of Maori are urbanized so are Indigeous people of Canada. In Canada they have created reserves to colonize them however keep them separate from the rest of the European population. Now many Indigenous live in the city not so much on the reserve.




Problems Maori and Canadian Indigenous Face


Due to the past both Indigenous groups face major problems that affect them today. Maori face poor living conditions, work minimum wage or otherwise unemployed and have poor self image. Indigenous people of Canada face similar issues such as the stereotype of a “ drunken Indian” which is aftermath of residential schools. They also face a high dropout rate which leaves kids with bad jobs and not creating a good self image and good atmosphere.



I think this is why Indigenous have such a bad reputation however it’s do to the past and many people aren’t educated. Did you know about these issues?




Both groups have had their culture stolen and land taken. Now both are regaining their self image and finding who they are and how to connect with their culture. It may take some time to regain what was lost, but it is a start to a new beginning.