Pre-1840 Maori/Pakeha Relations Part 1

Summary of Influences Pakeha attitudes of superiority Marked difference between societies and cultures Based on economics: exchange, trade and exploitation Maori choices about interaction and relationship with Pakeha were important Increasing European presence after 1830s

Basic Race Relations Two Views 1. Eurocentric: Europeans considered other races inferior, 2. Balanced: Modern view that mutual understanding may be limited, hence mutual influence and learning from each other.

First Culture Contact James Cook 1769-1777 – barter and exchange Both tried force at times but that worked against trade Early visits were irregular Which led to competition amongst Maori for European goods.

Regular contact Early Pakeha escaped convicts and runaway sailors Sudney entrepreneurs and traders More frequent after 1800 – whalers & sealers & timber Maori visited Sydney after 1805 Missionaries and trade after 1814

Intentions Maori willing to adopt and adapt Maori attitudes depended on intentions of vistors Direct interaction on ships or going overseas – sudden change Indirect interaction by Maori or Maori-Pakeha which led to more controlled change and easier to cope with.

Trade Maori Food, women, labour, artifacts, knowledge, NZ travel, protection,timber, flax, land. Europeans Metal, muskets, boats, overseas travel, new crops, clothing, alcohol, tobaccao,literacy, religion

Choice and Negotiation Interaction and change involved Choice and Negotiation Maori:- because of strength and self-confidence in their culture European:- assumptions of superiority and profit motive

Dominance : 1800-1840 European visitors and Pakeha assumed dominance of their own culture In practice Maori dominant up until 1840s - outnumbered Pakeha until 1850s Desire for dominance led to conflict Desire for trade controlled agression on both sides

Types of Conflict Maori travellers often ill-treated on ships - saw British culture Early European travellers and sojourners - Sealers - whalers - traders - Pakeha Maori - Maori women/wives

Mana Europeans seen as good for mana - derived from presence of Europeans - Maori control over Europeans - Access to Europeans’ trade goods

Muskets 1810 Maori scrambled for muskets from Europeans Musket wars spread in 1820s-30s Caused Maori migration to avoid attack Greater destruction than traditional weapons Musket did not respect rank Traditional weapons still used dense bush and hand-to-hand fighting

Hongi Hika Nga Puhi Defeat of Nga Puhi by Ngati Whaua in 1810 gave Hongi Hika desire for utu Sought European contact from 1814 First major leader to use muskets Used slaves to cultivate potatos to trade for muskets 1820 traded gifts from England for muskets in Sydney 1821-23 led many campaigns until death in 1828

Te Rauparaha Ngati Toa and Ngati Raukawa Decent Outstanding leader of his people Threatened by Waikato tribes in late 18th-early 19th C Ventured from Hauraki Gulf to Taranaki and Cook Strait. By 1819 was using muskets In 1820 under pressure from Waikato, left migration to Taranaki and then Kapiti.

Te Rauparaha cont’d Set up base in Kapiti Used slavs to build flax plantations and traded with Europeans for muskets Abt. 1827 began series of raids on South Island to gain Pounamu 1830s consolidated hold on central North Island, southern North Island and northern South Island

New Balance of Power Eventually all tribes had muskets By 1830s new balance of tribal power based on muskets rather than traditional weapons Conflict continued through 1830s but Destruction less than during 1820s

References Based on Graham Langton, (2005) Pre-1840 Maori/Pakeha Relations in Year 13 – New Zealand in the 19th Century. Auckland: ESA Publications. pp.43-54