Maori people
Introduction
The colonization of Maori people in New Zealand can be traced to the fear among the British that France would colonize it. This prompted the British to seek a peaceful arrangement that would ensure that New Zealand would not be taken by force and this led to the signing of Waitangi Treaty with the Maori Chiefs. This treat guaranteed the Maori peoples’ possession of their estates, lands, fisheries, forests and other properties and in return the Queen of England would be their Sovereign. However, the violation of the treaty perpetrated by the government saw the Maori population become affected socially, economically and health (Orange, 2011). To an extent, the effects of this violation have continued to plague the Maori people to the current times.
The treaty strengthened the relationship between the British and the Mari people by forming a formal alliance that ensured the Maori retained their chieftainship (Rangatirangata). The arrangement was to ensure mutual benefits and reciprocal obligation such that the autonomy if the people affairs was to be maintained. This arrangement was to have economic benefits among the Maori as the indigenous people and ensure that their social way of life would be protected against outside dangers. However, the economic benefits expected from this arrangement were short-lived as the British imposed custom duties that led to diverting of sipping to overseas ports that were duty free (Orange, 2011). The Maori were disallowed from levying any anchorage fees on shipping. An immediate result of annexation was settlers’ influx into the region which shifted towards domestic consumption, so that the settlers could obtain enough provisions from local tribes at low prices while they concentrated on fresh produce and grains (Orange, 2011).
In addition, the Maori people gradually came under the control of the British, but the local laws and regulation maintained their grips on the market. The social lives of Maori people were also influenced by the influx of settlers especially the Christians some of whom came as missionaries. The missionary influence was facilitated by this annexation and the Christian values were incorporated in legislations so that there was a shift from the traditional a flexible arrangements arrangement towards rigid behavioral codes among the Maori people (Belgrave, 2005). The missionaries introduced various forms of farming like use of ploughs and to some the tool was a means of assimilating the people spiritually and materially. The missionaries applied double standard, in their attitudes towards the Maori economic activities, where they expected them to be just conformable rather than just wealthy. They opposed their accumulation of too much wealth, an attitude that government officials and settlers also portrayed. The missionaries and the administrators formed a symbiotic alliance that facilitated that Maori people to free big chunks of land for settlers. They also strived to ensure that the Maori people adopted the Europeans lifestyles and settled habitations that would enable the control of the Maori people by the government and the missionaries (Orange, 2011). The results of this were increased cost of living among the host population. The Christian beliefs and political influence in mid 19th century facilitated the colonization process through its promotion of Maori property’s individualism. The European also criticized the Maori population social organization which can be attributed to the disorientation of their cultural way of life (Hikuroa & Bradford, 2013).
The colonization process also had various health implications among the Maori people, which can be attributed to the contact with the missionaries, administrators and the settlers. The Maori people began the epidemiological transition later than the people of British origin due to the impact of colonization on their diseases and hence death rates. There is evidence to the notion that pre-colonial life expectancy was higher than among British society and the same as that of privileged societies of 18th society. It is believed that musket warfare which happened from 1810 to 1840 led to high mortality among the Maori population; but most the death were result of diseases and other related causes. The introduction of diseases was thus a major cause for the reduction in population, so that by 1890, population had reduced by 40 percent of the population’s pre-contact size (Orange, 2011). The coming of settlers increased land demand and Maori were under pressure to sell of their lands, and they later lost such lands through confiscation after the 1860s wars (Orange, 2011). The result was a great displacement of Maori population, and this reduced them to poverty so that the only option was to survive in congested unhygienic conditions. Loss of land meant loss of access to traditional sources of food and poor dieting which facilitated the spread of various diseases. The mortality rates for children increased as majority of those who died were children, most of them who died before they could reach their time. Therefore, the negative impact of colonization on Maori cannot be separated from the broader cultural, social and economic changes that resulted. The changes in their living environment as a result of losing their land, shelter and food sources exposed them to risk of being infected by diseases and dying from them. The introduction of new life styles disrupted the indigenous and flexible lifestyle of the Maori people, so that they embraced European technologies and low economic measured values and these were detrimental to their well-being.
The Treaty of Waitangi breaches by the Crown is relates to the failure to uphold its obligations regarding various economic and social issues of the Maori people. The breaches also involved failure to protect the resources belonging to the Maori populations causing extensive poverty which affected their health. The government breached this treaty almost immediately after it was signed by failing to ensure that Maori ownership of land was upheld which left the people with inadequate land reserves. By allowing the early settlements, the government deprived the people of vital sources of foods that, maintained their health. The Maori people were basically referred to as Tangata Whenua whose meaning is people of the land, which is a strong indication of how much the people, depended on land for their social- economic and health support (Hikuroa & Bradford, 2013). In fact, the land was upheld as a mother to this population so that it was held with ancestral sentiment. In the law of New Zealand , which followed the British law , the Treaty of Waitangi accords the various entities – iwi- special obligations and rights and hence their recognition as Tangata Whenua. There were a lot of breaches of Treaty of Waitangi during 1850-1930, which lead to the violation of the population’s national sovereignty while distinguishing their self-determination especially through colonization. The people’s tittles were extinguished in 1848-1863 through unscrupulous land purchase from Ngai Tahu tribes, legal artifice and confiscation. The loss of the ancestral land resulted to urban migration and there was increased poverty due to lack of meaningful employement or access to resources (Hikuroa & Bradford, 2013).The passage of 1907 Tohunga Suppression Act on the basis of concerns that were raised about the safety and practice of some Tohunga prevented the Tohunga from dealing in traditional treatment methods.
To the various breaches of the treaty, the Maori population has been considered as being low in socio-economic terms based on the deprivation index of various variables. These aspects are seen in high inequalities between the Maori and non-Maori populations, and which can be attributed to unemployment , low income among households , increased overcrowding which all translate to poor health or health inequality. Inequalities in healthcare have been measured by households’ incomes and the results have shown that the inequality levels are unacceptable. The health outcomes across the Maori population are poorer as compared to other groupings in overall Newzealand population. The entire population of Maori forms a 14.7 percent of the country’s population, so that all local authority in this country consists of a minimum of 4.5 % Maori population, and yet this group is indicated to have the lowest health outcomes than any other group (Medical Council of New Zealand, 2006). The result is huge costs on the people and the whole society in terms of human suffering, increased expenditures on health and lost working days financial expenses. The mortality rate among the Maori people is also higher than that of non-Maori population and higher possibility of becoming ill. For instance , deaths from cancer among the Maori population makes up about two third of excess death from male cancer and a quarter of female death from cancer in New Zealand in comparison with countries such as Australia. Due to low incomes or poverty, the infants among the Maori population die at a higher rate from low weight at birth and SIDs than children from the non-Maori population (Medical Council of New Zealand, 2006). In addition, the Maori women rates of cervical, breast and lung cancer are several times greater than rates of such cancer cases from the non-Maori women. The low health standards have consequences that extend beyond the suboptimal outcomes among individual Maori. It is likely for a single negative experience by Maori to be shared with their Whanau, and this can end up influencing the perception of the whole community and their future behavior (Medical Council of New Zealand, 2006).
The inequalities in the health outcomes can be attributed to low access to rehabilitation services and health care and lower claims from injury in comparison to non-Maori. Even though the GP appointments turn up rate for Maori is similar to the non-Maori , fewer are issued with lesser diagnostic tests , treatment plans that are less effective and lower rates of secondary and tertiary procedures referrals than the patients from the non-Maori population. The incidence of obesity is higher for the Maori community – about 27 % vs. 16% - which leads to higher cases of diabetes – 8 % vs. 3 % , and younger diagnosis age – 43 vs. 55 years(Medical Council of New Zealand, 2006). The issue is made worse by the lower diagnosis rates and lower access to treatment methods that are effective. In another case, deaths rates which are avoidable are nearly double among the Maori people than for the other population in New Zealand, and death of a Maori occurs 8 -10 years earlier on average. What this means is that the Maori are normally sicker for lengthy periods, with less access to health care and hence their death occurs earlier as compared to Pakeha. The inequalities in the health continue even where other related factors like poverty , location and education are eliminated , which indicate that disruption in culture and lifestyle act as health status independent determinant (Moana,2005).
In addition cases of higher rates of unemployment are observed among the Maori than non-Maori, and this has impacted on their education level, welfare and access to justice. This can also be attributed to the Maori people assimilation into the European population, which the government pursued in 1950’s. this came from the believe that there was economic and social disadvantages for Maori living in natural rural places and urbanization was viewed as a good solution in facilitating the integration into other population. However, the people faced various challenges in the urban settings since they were either unskilled or semi-skilled meaning that they could hardly secure meaningful employment. This continued into the 80’ and 90’s, so that unemployment was higher for Maori than non-Maori (Wheen & Hayward, 2012). The population became advantaged when the government adopted major economic and social changes like market rentals for housing, major utilities privatization, user-change for education and health, restructuring of labor market for flexibility facilitation. In addition, the education system adopted by the government legislation and facilitated by assimilation efforts affected the te reo Maori through Eurocentric education aspect. These include cultural invasion and subordination, language domination, class structures, meritocracy, racism and negative expectation from teachers. The Treaty of Waitangi principles which were supposed to ensure inclusion of Pakeha and Maori values in decision-making aspect including regarding the education system failed to do so. However, the education systems especially in mission schools were only aimed at promoting an enlightened world view seen as superior (KA‟AI-MAHUTA, 2011). Due to many inequality challenges, access to education has not remained at par with other population in the current times.
The Treaty of Waitangi was established through elaborate principles of equality for the Maori and non-Maori people, but its violation in colonization error erased any progress that could have been gained through it. The violation has had immense historic consequences for the Maori people socially, economically, health wise and education wise. The disparities in the health between the Maori and non-Maori people indicates a need for implementation of policies to the later so that principles highlighted therein can serves the intended purpose. In the case of the health sector, health providers and agencies assume a responsibility on behalf of the public especially the marginalized groups. Interest in the principles established in Waitangi Treaty and its own understanding differs in accordance to political and personal point of view (Hikuroa & Bradford, 2013). The principles in the treaty should be followed in the nursing practice so as to achieve a cohesive approach in dealing with health disparity in the health sector. After understanding the kind of health differences that can be observed between the Maori and non-Maori populations, I can advocate for equality in good faith. The knowledge help in to recognize the rights the Maori people have in accessing affordable healthcare and how the Maori client should be handled by health agencies and community groups. It is important to form partnership between the Maori community, healthcare providers and the health ministry to bridge the gap. This kind of client is necessary for healthcare provision and reflecting on how to improve such services.
References
KA‟AI-MAHUTA, R., (2011). The impact of colonisation on te reo Māori: A critical review of the State education system. vol. 4, 1178-6035
Moana ,D., (2005).The Treaty of Waitangi Principles in the Korowai Oranga – Māori Health Strategy. A Critique from the Perspective of TB Care. Retrieved from: https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/arts/Departments/anthropology/documents-publications/MoanaOHthesis.pdf
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Hikuroa, E., & Bradford, V. (2013). Towards partnership: Indigenous health in Australia and New Zealand. 1-3 |
Orange, C. (2011). The Treaty of Waitangi. Wellington, N.Z: Bridget Williams Books.224-226
Belgrave, M., (2005).Historical Frictions: Maori Claims and Reinvented Histories. Auckland University Press.341-370
Wheen, N., & Hayward, J. (2012). Treaty of Waitangi Settlements. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books.
Medical Council of New Zealand,(2006).Best health outcomes for Maori:Practice implications. Retrieved from: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/Best-health-outcomes-for-Maori.pdf.8
