The Maori Spirit

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 8

The Maori Spirit

Inferiority Theory Answered

Suggestions made recently that the Maori suffered a- sense of his supposed inferiority to the PaJceha are discussed and criticised in the following article, which has been written for THE SUN by “Hare Hongi,” of Wellington, the rcell known expert upon Maori conditions and the author of several hooks on the Maori Race.

In addressing tlie Akarana Maori Association recently Mr. P. Smythe is reported as saying: “It is no use trying to gloss it over—the average Maori suffers from an inferiority complex.” Without pausing to inquire who is “trying to gloss if over,” I must first explain that what he means by "an inferiority complex,” is that the average Maori feels he is inferior to his neighbour, the Pakeha. And I have been under a lifelong impression that the Maori met the early Pakeha frankly and as his equal; and that he does so still.

New Zealand readers have known the Maori for the past 100 years. They have known him since he became aware that there was a curious, a new (tau-hou) people sailing to these shores, to whom he applied the name Pakeha. And it was not long before he was rudely wakened to the fact that he had to defend himself in battle against the Pakeha. And so the light of Wirau (Blenheim). That took place in open country, against a well-armed foe. Yet the Maori by no means showed an inferiority complex. In 1845-6 the Maori took the aggressive by capturing and sacking Kororareka (North Auckland) against Regular troops. Then followed the Ahuahu and Ohaeawai, against much superior forces, which were assisted by their own Maori kinsmen. It was fierce-fighting, with the Maoris victorious. There the average Maori, ill-armed though he was, returned blow for blow with zest-und interest, and he won. HISTORIC FIGHTS Then followed the Ruapekapeka, about which the least said the better. For there the civilised Pakeha, who had introduced Christianity, took advantage of the Maoris being outside of their pa at prayers, on the Sunday; stole silently in and captured the empty pa. Even then there was no inferiority shown. The Maoris, whose arms were in the pa, with the foe, actually tried to fight their way in! And when Sir George Grey remonstrated with the two leaders, Heke and Kauiti, and urged upon them peace; they replied; “Very well (e pai ana); if you have had enough of fighting—stop it.” Later still, in the ’sixties, the Waikato blazed with the fires of Rangiriri and Orakau, and at the Gate Pa, Tauranga. And the Pakeha will ever remember those contests. Then there were the stern encounters of Sentry

Hill, Te Ngutu o Te Manu, and Papa-ti-hakehake (near Waverley); Taranaki. The Pakeha troops always outnumbered their foes, hut the Maoris never counted them. No matter what their numbers or their much inferior equipment, the Maoris never once wavered in. the battle. They won three-fourths of the main encounters.

And so through the years to the Great War. The average Maori came forward, enlisted, and was taken to Egypt. There he clamoured and insisted upon being taken to the Front. In the face of those facts, where is the inferiority complex? Is it present and here since the Great War? No, it is not. Neither has it ever existed. The Maori meets the Pakeha always as an equal, not because of his Magna Charta, the Treaty of Waitangi; nor because the Maoris are provided with seats in the Upper and Lower Houses of our Parliament; but because the Maori feels himself to be just as good as the Pakeha. That feeling has been proper to him all through the years. He did not acquire his bravery, dignity and grace of deportment with a mind suffering from any feelings of inferiority. MAORI CIVILISATION In the same report, Mr. Smythe observed: “Maoris have been made better people by civilisation." That sounds well; but is it really true? For the Maori had a civilisation of his own. The well-documented sphere of Maori sociology shows that the natural mode of life of the oldtime Maori was a highly scientific one. The race had perfect and lasting teeth and was singularly free from diseases. And although that may to a large degree be attributable to the nourishing foods which the people ate, and to the regular hours which they kept, the strict enforcement and observance of the law of tapu was abundantly responsible for it. The product was a race physically and mentally perfect. The breaking down of that wonderful law of tapu has produced a race which civilisation has loaded with its evils, its ills, diseases and its worries! When I compare their present state with that of the past, I cannot help concluding that the youth of the past was better equipped, mentally and physically, than the youth of today. He is not only fast losing his own language, which is probably the best instrument of speech devised by ancient man, but he has lost all of the scientific teachings of his forebears.