What was the treatment of the Māori like by the early European settlers in New Zealand?

Answer 1

AnswerWherever you see colonization (from British, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Dutch), you will find that the indigenous people suffer. Look what has happened to the American native people, and Canada's First People and the Aborigines of Australia. Exactly the same thing happened in Aoteaora-New Zealand.

In some case it was simple Governmental power but these were colonists mostly from the British 'upper classes' who truly believed they had the right (and God on their side) to take and sell land. They had in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, India and Africa so they didn't see any reason why they shouldn't do the same in New Zealand.

Individual settler from the working classes, acted as all individuals do - some got on very well with Māori and worked together. Māori helped many settlers exists until the first crops came through; there were Māori traders and they knew the land and sea so could and did help.

Some, of course, regarded these brown skinned people as inferior and that's where the troubles started because this racist attitude was shared by the government and the New Zealand Company which acquired through fair meals or foul) land previously owned by Māori, to sell on to settlers.

So the true answer to the questions is that settlers treated Māori according to their own ethics and principles - some of which were good and some harmful.

Bear in mind, when you make judgments or the attitudes of the 19th century, that the white people had, in most cases, a rock solid belief in God and that God had made them a superior race. They had come from backgrounds (in the case of the upper class)where their rule was unquestioned. Poor, working people had come from famine, unemployment and degradation and land in New Zealand was their one hope of ever making a life for themselves. These are not excuses but they are reasons why Māori were not treated well.

Answer 2

New Zealand is a Member of the Commonwealth of Nations, although this is not specifically a British institution. Elizabeth II, as the Queen of New Zealand, is the country's head of State and is represented by a ceremonial Governor-General appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor-General holds reserve powers. The Queen has no real political or constitutional power, and her position is symbolic. Political power is held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

Answer 3

The Maoris were the first people in New Zealand, They are New Zealands native culture.

Answer 4

they treated us like all the colonial government treated the indigenious cultures. unfortunitly they bit off more than they could chew, and were forced in to signing te terity o te waitangi.

Answer 5

Aborigines of Australia had no rights. Maoris of New Zealand had the right to own land.