The New Zealand Oxford dictionary (2005) defines colonisation as “establishing a colony or colonies in a country or area” (p. 215). That means a group of people invading and fully forming a community in a new country or an area. In New Zealand, colonisation was the process of British migrants settling down in the country and building a government after the signing the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.History of immigration (2005) explains that large numbers of people from Britain came to New Zealand in 1840, after the agreement with Maori gave This assignment will define colonisation in the Aotearoa New Zealand context and discuss how Te Tiriti o Waitangi relates to colonisation for both Maori and non Maori.
It will also discuss how colonisation has impacted on the Ngati Toa people and how colonisation has affected the health of Maori. legal rights to immigrants. Te Tiriti o Waitangi relates to colonisation for both Maori and non Maori The Treaty of Waitangi is an agreement between the British Crown and Maori.The Treaty of Waitangi (2005) explains that by 1830 British politicians and officials in London noticed informal colonisation occurring in New Zealand therefore the British government decided to arrange formal British sovereignty in New Zealand and sent out Captain William Hobson.
Waitangi Tribunal (2011) states, “on 6 February 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands by Hobson, several English residents, and approximately 45 Maori rangatira, Hone Heke being the first” (para. 3).New Zealand History (2011) explains that over several months, the treaty was carried throughout New Zealand by missionaries and officials, eventually being signed by over 500 Maori chiefs. The Treaty of Waitangi (2005) states, “the Treaty promises to respect Maori authority over their own affairs” (p. 3). The intention of the treaty was to establish British law in New Zealand, while at the same time the Crown guaranteed Maori authority over their land and culture, and full citizenship rights.
However, there was argument between Maori and British because the English and Maori language versions of the treaty differed significantly.Waitangi Tribunal (2011) writes, “the Treaty of Waitangi has two texts, one Maori and one English. The English text is not an exact translation of the Maori text” (para. 2).
In the Maori version the word 'sovereignty' was translated as 'kawanatanga' (governance). New Zealand History (2011) indicates that Maori believed they had ceded a right of governance over their lands but retained the power to manage their own affairs. Maori had big expectations of the treaty, they hoped there would be a sharing of authority and the country would be protected from other foreign powers.Treaty of Waitangi Settlement Process (1999) points out that in reality, when New Zealand became a colony of the British the treaty was practically ignored, and there was expropriation of land and the culture of the native people was disregarded. Many British migrants came to New Zealand after the treaty was signed and the government took land from Maori for British settler families to live on. Maori had no power to manage their own land once the British government took over.
Waitangi Tribunal (2011) states, “... the Government took far more land than it said it would take” (para. 4).
Maori lost much of the land that they had owned for years.After the Treaty of Waitangi, British (non Maori) become powerful throughout the country and Maori become powerless. New Zealand in History (2000) explains that as many settlers arrived after the Treaty was signed; Maori language became unnecessary for Europeans to learn. English was the dominant language.
New Zealand in History (2000) shows, “the use of the Maori language in schools was actively discouraged, in order to encourage assimilation by the Maori into European culture as rapidly as possible” (para. 3). Maori elders asked that Maori language should not allow to be used in schools.Their purpose was to influence young Maori to learn European culture and language. Colonisation has impacted on the Ngati toa people The whanau show (n. d) states, “Ngati Toa (Ngati Toarangatira) is an iwi (New Zealand Maori tribe) descended from the eponymous ancestor Toarangatira” (para.
1). Ngati Toa (n. d) explains that Te Raupara is the chief of Nagti Toa tribe, who led war parties from Miria-te-kakara at Rangitikei to Wellington, across Cook Strait to Wairau and Nelson. But the tribe lives mainly around Porirua.
Ngati Toa people owned lots of land.Porirua City New Zealand (n. ) says, “from the 1820s to the 1850s Ngati Toa occupied at least 13 major pa or villages within the current Poriurua City boundaries” (para. 7).
However when the British colonists came after the Treaty of Waitangi, the government took a lot of their lands for roads, airports, schools, housing and many other things. “In about 1950, a lot of our people's lands, where they lived were taking by the government” (W. Katene, personal communication, May 16, 2011). W. Katene (personal communication, May 16, 2011) said that the hills of Elsdon and land from Porirua East were taking from Ngati Toa people for housing development in 1960.Porirua harbour is the main source of food for Ngati Toa people.
After many migrants came to Porirua, the harbour was polluted because of the waste products. T. Coker (personal communication, May 5, 2011) said that when Porirua hospital was built, an agreement was made between the government and Ngati Toa tribe regarding burying waste products in the ground. Instead the agreement was broken and waste product was dumped in Porirua harbour which led to pollution.
The people became ill from consuming the seafood, which affected the physical wellbeing of Ngati Toa people. W. Katene (personal communication, May 16, 2011) said that not many of the Ngati Toa people can speak Maori fluently in the present day. This was because the British government had earlier strictly forbidden the Maori language in schools. Colonisation has affected the health of Maori During European colonisation in Aotearoa, European arrivals brought with them diseases to which Maori had no immunity. Colonisation, diseases and social changes had severe negative effects on Maori health directly and indirectly.
Te Ara (2005) explains that Maori were fit and healthy, troubled by few diseases in 1770.But during colonisation, many migrants had carried diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, malaria and typhus to New Zealand. By the middle of the 19th century disease was widely spread. Adults as well as children were directly affected.
National Centre for Biotechnology Information (n. d) states, “from the earliest contact with Europeans, tobacco smoking became popular among men and women” (para. 1). Before Europeans arrived, there was no tobacco smoking in New Zealand. However it became popular among Maori society and the indirect consequences were that many people suffered from lung diseases and there was a high rate of death.Maori and Health (2011) explains that from Maori point of view, their beliefs, understanding and connection to the past are important for the present and the future.
They impact on the wellbeing of individuals and community. Sheppard (n. d) states, “the relationship of families… with land… integral with the Maori creation belief … including rights to hold ancestral land… were essential to the Maoris’ sense of identity and belonging” (para. 2).
Maori had occupied the land of New Zealand for hundreds of years.When the British government took their lands, Maori felt as if they had lost their links between the past and the present, and the present with the future. This also affected the mental health of Maori. In conclusion, this essay has found that the definition of colonisation links to the New Zealand context. The Treaty of Waitangi does relate to colonisation because Maori became powerless when they lost their lands. The effect of colonisation was negative on the health of Maori because they had no immunity to European diseases.
Overall colonisation has directly and indirectly affected on Maori by many ways.
