historyida



The arrival of the Maori to New Zealand is in part a mystery. It is assumed that they arrived over 1000 years ago from the surrounding islands, today called the Cook Islands. By the end of the 14th century the Maori people had settled across the whole of New Zealand. I t is unknown if these first explorers actually settled in New Zealand, or if they travelled back to inform others about the land they had discovered. But by the end of the 14th century the Maori people had settled across the whole of New Zealand.

The first visible revolution came when Hone Heke, who was chief and war leader of the Maori people, chopped down the flagpole which flew the British flag. Despite new poles and more guards, Hone Heke managed to chop the pole down four more times, until it was covered with iron. The gun shots that followed resulted in the British governor posting a £100 reward for Hone Heke’s head, to which the chief responded by offering a £100 reward for the governor’s head. This was only one in a long series of conflicts between the Maori people and the Europeans. The increasing number of settlers meant that the pressure on the treaty increased. Many discussions involving land sales resulted in tribal conflict. The government pressed on with developing the colony. In 1852 New Zealand got divided into six states that administered local governments and took control over the responsibility for land purchases and sales.

In 1859, the Maori were so troubled by events that they united to select a Maori ‘King’ and resisted land sales and European settlement in the Waikato (in New Zealand) and King Country region until the 20th century. Between 1860 and 1865, wars broke out in many parts of the country, the worst were in Taranaki. Skirmishes also arose in the East Coast region, with the rise of Hauhauism, a Maori religious movement which sought to chase away the Europeans.

After the Maori Wars, the government confiscated large parcels of Maori land, which, with new legislation allowing private land sales, resulted in the loss of the prime Maori land over the rest of the 19th century.

The Maori population was reduced a lot when it came more and more ships that all the way from the European countries, which brought diseases and wars with them. In 1840 the British and the Maori signed a treaty. Many of the decisions made in the treaty were ignored and today New Zealand government is working to make it up to the Maori people, to give back land that was illegally taken from them. Also the Maori population has increased to 250 000, and they have settled down all over the country. It is important for them to adapt to the modern society while making sure to keep their rich and unique culture and tradition.

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