Race Conflict in New Zealand 1814–1865

Te Ao Hou, September 1966, Page 60

Race Conflict in New Zealand 1814–1865 by Harold Miller Blackwood and Janet Paul, 42s reviewed by N. P. K. Puriri In this day and age the difficulty in knowing what to read among the many books on early New Zealand history grows greater every year. The important thing to be said about this book is that is should be on everyone's ‘short list’. I will go further—it should be in every school library, and Government and non-Government agents who deal in any way with Maoris should be thoroughly familiar with its contents. Mr Miller is a scholar with a remarkably wide range—which indeed he needs for a book which covers the early history of New Zealand and the attitudes of the people, both Maori

and non-Maori, who were living at the time. This book tells the story of the birth of a nation, the failures and mistakes of the colonizers. Very few of the early leading Pakeha administrators go unscathed, but on the other hand, missionaries, who usually get a rough time, come out of it with an untarnished image. Race Conflict in New Zealand is remarkable in that it is crammed full of facts, written in simple language and is as easily digested as a feed of pork bones and puha. My only complaint about the book is “why wasn't it written fifty years ago?” In discussing the merits of the book with one of my Ngapuhi kinsmen, he said, “You name it—its go it.” This was a reference to the author's supporting material, which covers approximately 80 pages, on such matters as Tribal War. The Maoris; Physical Condition, British Policy 1839, The Maori and English Law: Maori Attitude, The Maori and the Constitution of 1852, and many other subjects. As I have mentioned earlier, it is easily digested and it is good for both Maori and Pakeha. In the future, when some New Zealanders are a little paler than they are today and others a little darker, these things that happened so long ago can be a common heritage of all New Zealanders. This book will be of value to all readers, and the value lies not necessarily in blaming Pakehas for all that happened but in looking back and thus ensuring that such misunderstanding does not happen in our time, nor in the time of our many descendants who are yet unthought of and unborn. Harold Miller, my wife thanks you, my children thank you, and I thank you, for helping us understand ourselves better and at the same time understand our Pakeha neighbours. To those who wish to understand and to be understood, beg, borrow or better still, buy a copy. It is worth every penny of its 42 shillings.