New Zealand history and the Treaty of Waitangi--Part III (of IV, almost done!)

Note: please see parts 1 and 2 already posted to get up to date.

Due to the mid-19th century wars and the loss of land and livelihood, apparently there was an expectation that the Maoris were dying out. But the census told a different story. In 1896 the population was 42,000 but by 1921 there were 56,000, attributed vaguely to a growing resistance to European diseases and better medical care.

In the late 1800s the Maori also set up their own Parliament. It aimed at full implementation of the Treaty of Waitangi, which was interpreted to mean a form of limited self-government. The Parliament wanted the European Parliament to give them control of their land, property and personal rights. Although the European Parliament largely ignored these requests, it inspired Maori political activity and to pursue their own form of government with or without approval.

New Zealand participated in both world wars in the first half of the 20th century and experienced similar economic woes as did the rest of the world, most notably during the 1930s and the great depression. But much like the United States, New Zealand emerged from the decade with an amazing social program and burst of legislative activity under a Labour government. A minimum wage was fixed, a large public works program was commenced, pensions were increased—including those to widows—and an innovative state housing program began to help those with low priced rentals. Most notably in 1938 the Social Security Act further increased pensions, introduced a national health service providing medicines, medical treatment and maternity benefits, all free of charge to recipients. The program was the first comprehensive and integrated system of social security in the western world.

Based on the principle that all men (and women) are equal, the social security program’s intention was to aide all New Zealanders. For Maori, government ministers were desperate to raise their living standards to European levels. Accomplishing this would mean providing more than an equal amount of assistance, and historically Maori had never received as much government aid as Europeans.

The Maori experienced definite signs of growth in the first half of the century, holding official government positions and bettering the farming techniques and efficiencies. Despite their desires, the Maori continued to sell their land, over 3.5 million acres between 1911 and 1929. After that date, sales almost ceased but Maori had only 4.3 million acres left, half of which was very poor land. Nevertheless, there seemed to be a new attitude among the Pakeha toward the Maori starting in the 1930s. Several royal commissions were created to hear the grievances of the Maori and the government agreed to pay financial compensation for unfulfilled promises, for example to grant reserves or build schools, made in earlier days in connection to land purchases. Most important, Sinclair claims, one commission determined that the confiscation of Maori lands during the wards of the sixties had been unjust and substantial compensation was paid to the injured tribes. There is, however, no record of financial remuneration until the 1990s.