From the earliest Polynesian settlers who arrived in c. 1300 AD (Smith, p.1), up to the present day, the nation of New Zealand has developed a rich and illustrious history. Several important events beginning in the mid-19th century were crucial to that development: the Treaty of Waitangi, the Northern War, the New Zealand Wars, the Constitution Act of 1852, the relocation of the nation’s capital in 1865, and the Electoral Act of 1893 for women’s suffrage. All of these events had a strong cultural and/or political impact on New Zealand and its people, and helped shape it into the country it is today.
While Europeans discovered New Zealand in the mid-18th century (Smith, p. 26), planned European settlements didn’t begin until 1840 (p. 1). In order to avoid conflict with the native Maori people of New Zealand, the settlers quickly organized a treaty in hopes of establishing a peaceful relationship (Orange, ‘Treaty of Waitangi’). About 40 Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, and by the end of the year, over 500 other Maoris had signed the document (‘Signing the Treaty’). The Treaty gave the Maori all the rights of British citizens and sovereignty over their tribe’s lands, while Britain was given sovereignty of New Zealand as a whole (‘Signing the Treaty’). But, the true nature of the Treaty was apparently lost in translation:
“The Colonial Office believed that sovereignty had been secured for the British Crown on terms that would provide protection for Maori from the colonists. Maori expected…they would secure protection of their assets, control over their own affairs, their guarantee of important values, and a significant place in the new society. As time passed…the differences intensified” (Baragwanath, p. 6).
Following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, there was unrest between the Maori people and English settlers. According to Baragwanath, “the ineptness of the translation has been a source of grievance to Maori ever since” (p.4). Eventually, tensions between the two cultures peaked and resulted in the Northern War, which lasted from 11 March 1845 to 11 January 1846 (‘The Northern War’). Maoris repeatedly chopped down the British flagstaff at Kororāreka as a symbol of rebellion, which is why the war is often referred to as the Flagstaff War (‘The Northern War’). While the Northern War lasted only 10 months, it “marked the beginning of the wider North Island conflicts that are often referred to as the New Zealand Wars” (‘The Northern War’).
The New Zealand (or Maori) Wars were a series of battles and other conflicts between the Maori people and the Imperial and colonial British that stretched from March 1845 to 1872 (Belich, p.11). These battles are said to be “as important to New Zealand as were the Civil Wars to England and the United States” (Belich, p. 15). The Maori people were hopelessly outnumbered against the British army: the entire Maori population at the time (including women and children) is thought to be about 60,000, while the British army mobilized 18,000 troops for their biggest campaign (p.15). But the Maoris proved to the Europeans their resilience and tenacity in battle, and earned respect enough to maintain a prominent role in New Zealand to this day.
The transition to independence from Britain was a very slow process for New Zealand. They were a British colony until 1907, and didn’t break ties with British courts until 2003 (McIntyre, ‘Self-government and independence’). However, the Constitution Act of 1852 was a big step in the process, because it made New Zealand a self-governing nation (‘Self-government and independence). The Act established a bicameral General Assembly, later to be called Parliament, the Executive Council, and divided New Zealand into six provinces (‘Self-government and independence’).
New Zealand’s first capital city was established at Russell, in the Bay of Islands, following the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 (Levine, ‘Capital city’). Later that year, it was decided to move the capital to a more centrally located area of New Zealand. In March of 1841, Auckland became the new capital city, located about 250 kilometres south of Russell (‘Capital city’). But politicians, especially those from the South Island, still complained that the capital city was inconvenient and that transportation there was difficult. In 1865, after several years of consideration, the town of Wellington, located at the southern tip of the North Island, was chosen as New Zealand’s new capital and has remained so ever since (‘Capital City’). Wellington is the world’s southernmost national capital, and was named “coolest little capital in the world” by Lonely Planet in 2011 (‘Capital City’).
New Zealand was a very progressive country when it came to women’s rights and the feminist movement (Grimshaw, p.6). With the Electoral Act of 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to give women the right to vote (‘New Zealand women and the vote’). The most prominent figure in the women’s suffrage movement was Kate Sheppard (Grimshaw, p.36), and “her contribution to New Zealand history has been acknowledged on the $10 note” (‘New Zealand women and the vote’). Today, women play a huge role in the politics of the country- in 2013, 32% of the Members of Parliament were females, and in the last decade, each of New Zealand’s key constitutional positions- prime minister, governor-general, speaker of the House, attorney general, and chief justice- have been held by women (‘New Zealand women and the vote’).
New Zealand began as a tribal nation, occupied by the Maori people for nearly 350 years before European explorers discovered the islands (Smith, 1). Since the European settlements began, there has been plenty of unrest between the two cultures, such as the Northern War and the New Zealand Wars, which stemmed from misunderstandings over the Treaty of Waitangi. However, tensions have settled, and there have been many efforts to establish a more harmonious relationship. Several monumental political events, including the Constitutional Act of 1852, the relocation of the capital city and women’s suffrage, allowed the country and its government to grow and prosper together into an effective society. Despite being a fairly young country, New Zealand has developed a solid cultural and political foundation, and has a promising future ahead.
Works Cited
Baragwanath, Justice, Hekia Parata, and Joe Williams. "Treaty of Waitangi Issues- the last decade and the next century." New Zealand Law Society Seminar 1 (1997): 1-54. Print.
Belich, James. The New Zealand wars and the Victorian interpretation of racial conflict. Auckland: Auckland University Press; 1986. Print.
Grimshaw, Patricia. Women's suffrage in New Zealand. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 1972. Print.
Levine, Steven. 'Capital city - New Zealand’s capital', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 13-Jul-12. 15 Mar. 2014. < http://www.teara.govt.nz/en /capital-city>
McIntyre, W. David. 'Self-government and independence - Crown colony', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 13-Jul-12. 17 Mar. 2014 <http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/self-government-and-independence/page-1>
"New Zealand women and the vote." NZHistory, New Zealand history online. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/womens-suffrage>.
"The Northern War." NZHistory, New Zealand history online. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/northern-war>.
Orange, Claudia. 'Treaty of Waitangi', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 9-Nov-12. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/treaty-of-waitangi>
"Signing the Treaty." NZHistory, New Zealand history online. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/making-the-treaty/signing-the-treaty>.
Smith, Philippa. A concise history of New Zealand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print.
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