Impact of the Ocean Whalers

The Ocean Whalers had a huge impact on New Zealand and the Maori. There could be as many as 15 ships at anchor off Kororareka, each had a crew of 20 to 50, so there might be 500 sailors ashore at any one time. Most were intent upon getting drunk and laid. They invested large amounts of money or trade goods into the local economy, paying for rum and sex. As Belich points out it was either “restraint, self abuse or the Yate solution”. Theres a book about this 'solution' I just can't remember the title at the moment.

“The missionaries were troubled by what they saw in Kororareka. Prostitution was one of the Bay's main industries and sexual favours were used in the purchase of many things, including muskets. Three-week marriages were commonly negotiated and many local women bore the tattoos of their itinerant lovers. In 1834 Edward Markham described how 30-35 whaling ships would 'come in for three weeks to the Bay and 400 [to] 500 Sailors requires as many Women, and they have been out [at sea] one year.... These young ladies go off to the Ships, and three weeks on board are spent much to their satisfaction, as they get from the Sailors a Fowling piece [shotgun],...Blankets, Gowns etc.' Another observer at the time described Kororareka as a 'Gomorrah, the scourge of the Pacific, which should be struck down by the ravages of disease for its depravity'. Its reputation as a lawless town with numerous bars and brothels saw it dubbed 'the hell-hole of the Pacific'.” (http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/missionaries/kororareka)

The ships Captains also spent large amounts acquiring the fresh vegetables, meat and water that the crew would need. Almost all of this wealth made its way to the local Nga Puhi. While some was accumulated by the Ariki (Chiefs) most was distributed amongst the various Hapu and Whanau that made up the Iwi.

These Maori stood at a doorway to Europe, they filtered European goods values and technology. The distributed these goods to their whanau and gained great mana amongst their peers and their neighbours. Not only did they acquire iron tools and implements but also cloth and other desirable goods.

This meant that jealous neighbours or even kin also tried to acquire their own Pakeha. They could all see what the presence of Traders made for the Bay of Islands Nga Puhi. Hokianga Maori although related to the Nga Puhi and beneficiaries of an extensive trade in timber still viewed their relations with envy. (This would lead to their taking different sides in 1846 – but more on that later)

As well as Chiefs like Ruatara, Moehanga, Te Pahi and Hika many younger Maori journeyed to Sydney or further afield. At least one whaler had a Maori Mate (2^nd in command). They returned with their own versions of the world beyond the horizon. This was unfiltered by poor translation or particular viewpoints (Missionaries especially disliked this). They gained mana, brought back European goods and knowledge (Sea shanties to use of artillery) and many who had worked on whalers were paid in muskets. (Belich p137-8, 144-5).

The whalers also introduced disease to the local Maori, the most obvious being the STD’s that were spread amongst the ships girls. This led to a fall off in fertility. Other diseases also spread, but as has been noted New Zealand’s distance from the rest of the world had one advantage. Ships that departed for New Zealand carrying disease were at sea for at least 3 months often for 5. Disease carriers either recovered or died, either way the disease had effectively run its course by arrival time. (again I think this idea is from Belich). This didn’t make New Zealand disease free but it did keep some of the old worlds worst epidemics at bay. Lesser disease did arrive and had similar effects to other Polynesian outposts.

Probably the greatest effect was in the trade of Muskets. Maori quickly identified the value of muskets in hunting, it was also seen as valuable in combat, but the relative scarcity did not make them truly useful just now (More to come later).