By AnonSWstudent
Ko wai hoki koe? Who the hell are you to share your opinion on Māori and historical trauma? First and foremost, it is appropriate to acknowledge tangata whenua, for words cannot describe the battles your ancestors, tupuna and whānau have endured and are continuously enduring of what happened in the past to this day. So, I would only feel like it’s appropriate and respectful of me to acknowledge them for I will be sharing my perspective on what I have learnt about Māori and its historical trauma.
Growing up, my lenses and critical thinking around social issues were appalling to say the least. It wasn’t until I entered university in Foundation Studies for Education and Social Work (FoES), that I began to realise how bigger these social issues were. For example, in one of my classes I learnt about the Declaration of Independence which was the lead up to Te Tiriti O Waitangi. The Declaration of Independence was a document formed five years (1835) before Te Tiriti O Waitangi (1840) to establish the circumstances for sovereign nations, recognising tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty) of Rangatira ( Māori chiefs) in Aotearoa (He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence, 2017, p.1). This document came about to assist the relationship between settlers and Māori, (He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence, 2017, p.1). The was because the relationship between settlers and Māori was less than ideal, being that settlers who referred to themselves as “superiors” were above and beyond Māori particularly with their skin colour and treating them poorly and unfairly. Māori then endured mass amounts of suffering, pain and loss of identity due to the unfairness, inequality and unjust system these “superiors” bestowed upon them. Therefore, this was how the Declaration of Independence came into being, so that Rangatira were able to safeguard their people during times of rapid changes (He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence, 2017, p.1) and be recognised by the Crown that they too had laws in Aotearoa (Waitangi, Tribunal, p.2). However, settlers did not want to believe tangata whenua had their own laws well before the settlers had set foot into Aotearoa (Waitangi Tribunal, 1999, p. 2). In saying that, tangata whenua felt mixed emotions when settlers arrived, disrespecting and disobeying their laws, for there were arguments and misunderstandings between the two groups (Waitangi Tribunal, 1999, p.2). Therefore, this is where Te Tiriti O Waitangi was established and is the most important living document for Aotearoa now. Te Tiriti O Waitangi is a document where two representatives, the British Crown and more than 500 Rangatira (Orange, 2012, p.1) gathered to discuss and come to a sort of agreement regarding the treaty itself, the effects it would have on tangata whenua, and the future relationship between the two groups.
The two groups eventually came to an agreement, however the effects of the Treaty after it was signed, led to some devastating battles with loss of land, identity, traditions. Eventually, the British Crown who was in control failed to not only protect and serve both groups equally, but they failed to allow tangata whenua ownership and control over their lands (Waitangi Tribunal, 1999, p.1). In the Treaty, Article Two states that Māori were to exercise authority in respect to their own affairs and were given full chieftainship (Office of Maori Development) to sell their land on their own terms and agreement. Unfortunately, settlers and the government failed to follow procedures and ignored the Treaty altogether, causing major uproar within tangata whenua. This land confiscation was opposed in protests, i.e. in 1977 at Bastion Point, Ngati Whatua, who had lost their title to own land, were forcibly removed (particularly during the protest on 25/05/1978, 222 protestors were evicted and arrested by the police) with the burning and demolishing of marae, homes, churches and the cemetery (Robb, 2018, A3). Which I personally find beyond disrespectful and disgusting that the crown and government allowed such a cruel act upon tangata whenua, for they opened their country for “superiors” to live and grow a lifestyle that would not harm anyone.
The historical trauma and loss experienced by tangata whenua has ripple effects in contemporary Aotearoa. It doesn’t help when the Media has played a lead role in generalising and sensationalising Māori child abuse all over the news. Media has framed these social issues such as child abuse, domestic violence and the uplift of children, plus many more, a “Māori Issue” of the “Māori society”. They are not “Māori Issues” nor a “Māori Society” problem, as they have arisen from the trauma, the “superior” groups have embedded in the past. This is still a problem in the contemporary world today, especially for social workers, who acknowledge the Treaty of Waitangi in their agency or organisation, but most importantly work along and aside tangata whenua. Assisting them through some of their journeys, where some are being stripped away from their families because government sees them as not “fit” enough parents to raise a child, the loss of whakapapa of the tamariki, and lastly government planning to remove tamariki before birth.
It is sad to see tangata whenua being stripped off their children and whakapapa and being afraid to live in their own country, because of the mistreatment, unjust systems, inequality, and stereotypes labelled upon them because of who they are and their skin colour. It hurts to see my neighbours of Aotearoa suffer through all of this.
Keep fighting!
References
Beddoe, L. (2020, May 1). Media representations race -class -gender [PowerPoint].
He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence. (2017). New Zealand History | NZHistory, New Zealand history online. https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/declaration-of-independence-taming-the-frontier
Office of Maori Development. (n.d.). Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi. University of Otago, University of Otago, New Zealand. https://www.otago.ac.nz/maori/otago667416.pdf
Orange, C. (2012, June 20). Creating the Treaty of Waitangi. Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. https://teara.govt.nz/en/treaty-of-waitangi/page-1
Robb, A. (2018, June 3). Bastion Point: A desperate struggle and a dream fulfilled. E-Tangata, pp. A1-A4. https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/bastion-point-a-desperate-struggle-and-a-dream-fulfilled/
Waitangi Tribunal. (1999, February). The Treaty of Waitangi PAST AND PRESENT. A resource for primary schools. Waitangi Tribunal | Waitangi Tribunal. https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/The-Treaty-of-Waitangi-Past-and-Present-Resource-Eng.pdf
socialworkdiscourse2020 