…A Māori Perspective on Poverty…
Before colonisation Māori were the kaitiaki (guardian) for New
Zealand. Māori society worked together
for the betterment of the people, they had a system that worked really well and
functioned within an equitable gender approach to produce a socially agreed
outcome (Orange, 2004). Māori ideology
was put in place for the wellbeing of whānau, hapū and iwi (Barlow, 1991; Orange,
2004). Māori society worked together
with no formal policy or political body however; there was a structure within
the tribe that kept lore and order. This kept their values and beliefs in tact
(tapū, ngā tikanga and kawa) (Barlow, 1991; Orange, 2004; Pere, 1982). Māori continued to live a wealthy life that
was holistic in its approach and helped them live in their environment (Orange,
2004).
Within the last
month I have had the privilege
of meeting Houpeke Piripi Senior
who is the Rangatira for the NgatiWai
people. The motu (area) covers Cape
Brett to the Barrier.
During my time with him he was able to share with
me through esoteric knowledge how poverty started for
his people. He
said …
“Before
colonisation Māori did not experience poverty; their culture was intact and thriving. They lived their traditional ways and everyone
worked together and shared everything amongst the tribe. This was known as the ‘Law of Consecration’. When
the British arrived and the treaty
was signed in 1840, Māori lost their independence, they were taken
from their rural community and urbanised into society. All of a sudden Māori were faced with things they
had never experienced before, like; rent to pay, food to buy and they had to compete with Pakeha for jobs.
This was totally alien for Māori and was the beginning of a downhill spiral for them. Schooling
was taught in English so from
the start Māori were disadvantage. They then started experiencing overcrowding, foreign diseases, lacked nutritious food and excessively used alcohol and tobacco (that
the British used to trade with Māori . Māori found it difficult to provide the
basic essentials for their children and families and this was
the start of poverty” (Personal
communication, 16 March, 2013).
I found this amazing and relevant, as
in society today a very high percentage of Māori children (39% of the
270,000) are living in overcrowded
houses, lacking in education,
experiencing bad health and go
without nourishing food (Children’s Commissioner,
2008).
This has made me wonder whether poverty has specifically affected
Māori due to their language being taken away from them in school in the 1850’s,
being urbanised in the 1940’s and losing their identity in the 1950's (through being 'pepper-potted' to learn the English ways)
(Tetaurawhiri, n.d). Check out this
website, it shows an in-depth timeline of Māori Language and Education - http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/english/issues_e/hist/index.shtml
I believe that Māori child poverty is a consequence of colonisation. I have also contemplated whether poverty of any extent would have occurred in New Zealand if colonisation did not happen or would government influences from overseas slowly creep in and have an effect upon the way Māori were living?
What an interesting perspective Charlotte. HOw great to have the opportunity to speak with someone who has lived experiences of both Maori culture and the effects of current social issues in New Zealand society. I also found the statistics on Maori experiencing poverty disheartening. As the causes of poverty are complex, I agree to some extent that it is poverty that may have caused a weakening and loss of culture and identity for Maori people. It would be interesting to read the findings as to why Maori and Pasifika children make up a large portion of children living in poverty in New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting perspective that links Maori poverty with the history of colonisation. How awesome to gain the perspective of a local elder. Just one point - urbanisation was a contributing factor after the 1950s. Until then, Maori lived a mainly rural existance and traditioinal practices continued based on the marae. You could strengthen this blog by providing some statistical evidence or facts. Eg. When was the act passed that English was the only language in schools? It was not immeadiately after the treaty as you suggest. What factors contributed to urbanisation? Claudia Orange would be a great academic sources to validate some of the statements you make and improve the accuracy of your work.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read the additional paragraph you have added based on Orange (2004). If such an equitable approach resulting in agreeable outcomes still applied to Maori society today, then perhaps the statistics on Maori living in realtive to extreme poverty would read differently. Imagine if such outcoomes were applied to all of New Zealand society!
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned by Cheryl, many Maori families lived in rural areas of New Zealand, relying on traditional methods and knowledge to live. Many families would have then lived communally as they do now, sharing resources in order to get by. I believe that much of that is culture, wether it be as a people or a country.
In todays's urbanised society, the systems of justice, health and education are not always evenly distributed to everyone. That is why we have the current statistics we do on poverty and related issues. Paying rent, buying food for the familiy and competing with others for a shortfall in employment opportunities are problems faced by many New Zealanders. It is important to hold onto heritage and cultural ways of being. This, I suppose, is why it is important to be critical in our thinking, and use what we can from the past and the present to provide the best for our future.