Maori Equality

 
Author: Jenna C.
 
 
The Maori people are the indigenous Polynesian people the inhabit New Zealand. There has been an increase in the population of the Maori and their cultural practices have been brought back and forward, but there are still struggles that they face each day. The Maori have faced many problems throughout history and continue to do so today. There is racism, land disputes, poverty, and more.



Maori land was invaded in the 1860s. This led to the loss of much of their land. There were many battles, wins and losses both sides. The government jailed peaceful resistance leaders and banned traditional Maori practices around two decades later. Colonization is perseveres and is sustained by racism and it is still present to this very day.

            The Maori face major pushback in their bid for equal treatment from the white majority of the New Zealand population. Racism is a large aspect of the problems the native people face It is found in all institutions in New Zealand, this include their Churches, Educational System, Government, Housing, Health Services, and the Legal System as well.  Much of the well-known parts of the Maori are media driven, with sports events exhibiting hakas as well as the increase in the popularity of their tattoo styles. Many tensions between the Maori and the non-Maori are covered with day-to-day pleasantries, and lay waiting to bubble over.

           
         With the legal system, within the Maori population there are higher instances of incarceration, sexual assault, and domestic abuse. Around fifty-one percent of the prison population is made up of Maori. Forty-six percent of apprehended Maori are prosecuted with comparisons to the only nine percent of the white New Zealanders.  On to the government, which goes partly with land. Over the years, the government has taken more and more land for the Maori people. This is seen over and over again through the world when it comes to native peoples and encroaching governments. They take sacred land from them. Further on the lack of lands is the lack of housing. In New Zealand, it seems to be mainly the Maori who are homeless, and this is not just those who have done some crime or another, but also children. There are homeless of all ages, from elders to little kids. With the health system, there are higher rates of physical and mental illnesses of the Maori people as well as incidences of members committing suicide. There are high levels of drug use and resulting addictions. Educationally, the culture of the Maoris was not a priority to learn, and with this the number of speakers of their language has gone done drastically. More “mainstream” languages were preferred as they seemed more beneficial to the persons future use.

            There are many ways in order for the Maori problems to be alleviated, but they are not easy. What one person may think may help, is actually the opposite in another’s. First of all, people have to stop denying that the problems are there. Secondly, it needs to be openly talked over, with as many people involved as needed. Diversion of the topic needs to stop. Thirdly, finger pointing and shaming, while not saying what the other groups parts are needs to be brought to light. Now fourthly, it needs acknowledged that the problems with persist no matter how many people want to “move on” to the next topic and put it to the side.

            As of 2014, there were government projects working on Maori housing strategies. Around fifty thousand homes were being planned to be built in Auckland, New Zealand, but there was uncertainty on the specificity of the numbers of urban Maori to benefit from these. More needs to be done in order to make sure benefits can reach every person affected.

            Better health organizations centered on the problems faced by the Maori need to be created. This is to say both mental and physical health. More mental health help could bring down depression and instances of suicide. Rehab centers for those who are alcoholics and/or drug addicts could work towards keeping many Maori people out of prisons. With this decrease their outward image will improve where people will be able to see the benefits of helping them and could perhaps even out the conviction rates of apprehended individuals.

            The culture is making a come back in media and sports. The new Aquaman movie has brought more aspects into light, with the main actor Jason Mamoa, who plays a Maori version of Aquaman, performing a haka at the red carpet, even though he is Hawaiian. Jewelry designs are being seen at an increasing rate along with their tattoo designs.

            The needs of the Maori people need to be taken into account. Many governments say natives need to just move and they will be fine, but this is not a beneficial viewpoint for the people displaced. Land needs to be worked out in order to at least give the people their heritage back. The Maori’s needs need to be viewed from the view set of their culture in order to determine what they truly need and will be beneficial to them.

            History has not been kind to native people. Colonialism has given them the short end of the stick. The progress is small in areas, larger in others, but slowly things and people are working towards setting things right. No longer can people remain blind and no longer can people remain in inaction. People need help today, and inaction will only hurt more in the end.



Author Bio: Jenna C., student at IUPUI


Sources:

1.      https://www.ibiblio.org/ahkitj/wscfap/arms1974/Book%20Series/TheImageOfGodIM/IOGIM-maoripeople.htm

2.      http://smartbrains.tripod.com/Today.html

3.      https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2013/feb/22/paradise-new-zealand-problems

4.      https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/working-towards-maori-equality

5.      https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/355800/maori-housing-issues-raised-with-govt

6.      https://www.unicef.org.nz/story/why-is-it-mainly-maori-who-are-homeless

7.      https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/racism-and-white-defensiveness-in-aotearoa-a-pakeha-perspective/

8.      https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/national/torrent-haka-floods-aquamans-red-carpet

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