THE MAORI PEOPLE OF WELLINGTON

Te Ao Hou, May 1957, Page 25

The Maori population of Wellington consists of some traditional settlements (such as Porirua, Petone, Waiwhetu) and a large number of people from other districts who have come to settle there. Over the last few years, these people have increased enormously in number, and at the same time their place in the general community has changed. They now look like city people, dressed in the latest fashions, many with an air of sophistication that might stun their country cousins. THE MAORI PEOPLE OF WELLINGTON by REV. MANU BENNETT B.Sc. How is this urban community of Maoris, the second largest in the country, shaping today? Perhaps a scientist will one day make a full study of the subject. My own knowledge is purely what I have discovered as a Minister of the Church working in Wellington for a number of years. In this article I am giving my own impressions and on the whole they are optimistic ones: I think the Maori has adjusted himself very well in Wellington, getting the advantages of city life (social, economic and educational) and on the whole avoiding the dangers. In 1949 the Maori population of Wellington City, Hutt City and their suburban districts, numbered approximately 1,100. Today it is 3,229. The problem of breaking this population down statistically under the headings of sex, age and occupation, is a very difficult one. It is I am sure, quite obvious to even the casual observer that the bulk of the Maori population here is made up of groups Miss Diana Mutu, of Ahipara, has been in Wellington for three years. She likes being a tram conductress, takes all the overtime she can and believes in saving. She has become very attached to the city. (PHOTO: JOHN FUN

of young people, largely youths, young adults, and young married couples. Secondly, that there would be in the total population in this urban area a greater number of females than males. Thirdly, the behaviour pattern of the Maoris in the Wellington-Lower Hutt area would be somewhat different from the behaviour pattern of Maoris resident in areas where there is a predominance of menfolk. Taken all round, the behaviour and conduct of Maoris in the Wellington-Hutt area is fairly good. Incidence of Maori delinquency, of crime and drunkenness is so occasional as to be negligible in regard to court convictions. The scale of misdemeanours amongst the Maoris in the city, generally ranges from rowdiness to petty theft. In the last two or three years, there has been no serious crime amongst the Maoris of Wellington-Lower Hutt and very few convictions or arrests even for drunkenness.