Essay Feedback

I know that some of you will be disappointed by the results of this first attempt. A not achieved at this point is no big deal. If you got an Achieved or a Merit, well done. We didn't have all that much to work with but some of you did better than others because you followed some simple ideas.

Hopefully you all use the 5 steps we discussed in class to get started.

Essentially you need to start with a simple introduction. Generally rewrite the question with some pointers to the content that you will cover. Then start at the beginning - history essays are after all chronological! Try to link the paragraphs together and finish with a conclusion. I know I make it it sound easy. It isn't without practice, lots of practice.

The biggest problem with many of your attempts was a simple lack of material. Regurgitating the intro' I wrote isn't your work. There's a saying about a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, well some of you need to take that first step! Some of you wrote all about the Sealer's and how dreadful their lives were, some even used good examples. Some of these narratives ran to a page or more. It was irrelevant. You needed to explain why the decision was made to send Sealers (etc.) and then the consequences/effect of that decision. The stuff in between needs only referencing.

Unfortunately Other problems included too much material using the more is less rather than less is more theory. Writing screeds in the hope of answering the question somewehere/somehow is only going to annoy markers (believe me I know) so try to be efficient. Besides wasting a page of writing that gains no credit is 10-15 minutes you could spend on something else that gains you marks.

Anyway, if any of you want to resubmit - including the Missionaries, now that we've looked at them then get it back to me before the holidays!

The Missionaries Legacy

The Missionaries helped to open up New Zealand. Their presence tended to make it easier for other Europeans to interact with Maori. In general we are of course referring to the CMS under Samuel Marsden's direction. It is his drive and determination that see the first Msiion opened at Rangihoua and further stations opened at Kerikeri and Paihia. His first choice of Kendall as leader is an initial weakness, although he could not have forseen the death of Ruatara and the subsequent patronage of Hongi Hika. Sending Henry Williams to replace Kendall is inspired and perhaps a reflection that Marsden recognised his earlier mistake.

The Missionaries learn and translate Maori into a written language. They introduce literacy to a large number of the Maori. Literacy allows the teaching of religion. Hika's belief that Christianity was 'a religion worthy only of slaves', meant that many slaves were educated and when the opportunity was offered converted. It was this that allowed many freed slaves to return to their Iwi as missionaries in their own right. Many returned to area's that European Missionaries would not arrive in until years later. Not only do the CMS introduce education and religion they helped to expand agriculture. The first plough was used by the CMS.

CMS activities under Kendall are insipid and achieve little except to confirm the weakness of their religion to Hika. Under Willimas it is revitalised and becomes more dynamic. Building the Herald increases their reach and takes them out from beneath Hikas control, although it seems that Hikas power and influence was on the wane by the latter part of the 1820's.

The CMS will try to take credit for the end of the Musket wars although most Historians will discount this claim. It is of course the trip that Kendall takes with Waikato and Hika that will jump start the Musket wars in 1821. Their ability to stop warring Maori from fighting is rarely tested.

When Maori do take up Christianity it is not always as intended. While the CMS are Christian it is often the Old Testament that attracts them. Christianity was all about Christ the God of forgivenss etc., while the Old Testament God was Jehovah the God of retribution and revenge. When synthesised with their old Atua this God made more sense. We will look at this in more detail when we cover the various Prophets that emerged.

The Missionaries reports of the activities at Kororareka will lead to the expansion of the British Government into New Zealand with the arrival of Busby. We will also discover the influence they will have over the Treaty negotiations at Waitangi.

More Reading

You should still be reading 'Century of Change' and finishing the 'Missionaries' handout. There are some good books about this period. Belichs 'Making Peoples' has some good material as does Paul Moons 'The Treaty and Its Times" which is in the library and is worth a look. It has some good material, and is easy to read. There are some biographies on Kendall and Marsden about but may be too weighty for our purposes.

We are looking at the "Musket Wars" period this week.

Ron Crosby has written some good books including (surprise surprise) 'The Musket Wars 'and a biography on Hongi Hika called (Wow!) 'Hongi Hika'. Angela Ballara's book 'Taua' is also very good. All cover the period of inter-tribal warfare in great detail, but it is easy to dip into and find some interesting details.

Its only two weeks to the holidays!

Civilising and Converting.

Wherever Europeans settled, whether by conquest or otherwise. they took their culture with them. A mainstay of their culture or identity was religion. The Spaniards, Portuguese and French took Catholicism. The British took Protestantism. By the early 19th century the British were ascendant and were certain that God was on their side. In fact everything pointed to them being the most advanced civilisation that had ever developed.

They wanted to bring the wonders of the civilisation to the backward and needy natives. This would also wanted to expand the Empire, making Britain even greater… richer, more powerful… (No wonder everyone else seemed to dislike them, They probably thought Hubris was an English word).

The Missionaries who followed the explorers wanted to save the souls of the heathen. It was in their destiny to expand the empire, it was also their destiny to spread the word of God.

Samuel Marsden led the (Anglican) Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Sydney. He had a tough reputation and was known as the ‘Flogging Parson”. He lived in Parramatta and had become wealthy on the landholdings he had acquired. He developed a strong bond with many of the Maori who visited Port Jackson, especially Ruatara who spent some time recuperating in his care.

Ruatara was an important chief amongst the Nga Puhi of the Bay of Islands. He hoped to encourage Marsden into bringing Missionaries to his people. However it was not just the word of God that the hoped for.

Marsden seemed to greatly admire the Maori as a people suited to accepting Christianity.

Preliminary ideas of setting up a mission were put on hold by the burning of the Boyd in Whangaroa harbour. By 1814 Marsden felt more comfortable with the proposal.

It was his hoped that the Missionaries could civilise the Maori. They would first show them the advantages that a civilised culture could offer them. Once this was accepted then they would readily accept the religion that was central to that culture. This explained the inclusion of King and Hall, a rope maker and carpenter. They were accompanied by their families, a sign that they wanted to establish a permanent presence. It was hoped that the families would also keep the missionaries away from the excesses and temptations of Kororareka. I guess 2 out of 3 isn’t to bad.

Civilise then convert.

It seemed simple. The first Mission station was set up on the northern side of the Bay of Islands in an area under the control of Ruatara and his hapu. The site was Rangihoua.
Ruatara died soon afterwards. His place as protector was taken by Hongi Hika. Soon the Mission moved to Kerikeri and Paihia, close enough to see Kororareka, not so close it could be contaminated by the Whalers antics.

Hika wanted the Missionaries for what they could give him. He never converted to Christianity. Although Marsden came to New Zealand he never stayed. Leadership of the Mission fell to Thomas Kendall who never really fired as a leader. He lacked the ability to inspire and was unable to shake the shadow cast by Hika. Belich describes Kendall as Hika’s vassal.

Maori were disappointed by the Missionaries. They wanted traders who could provide a steady stream of material especially muskets. When Kendall followed Marsden’s direction not to trade in Muskets their mana really diminished.

From a letter to Kendall from Marsden, 1819

"I found that you had fallen into that accursed traffic with muskets and powder again, notwithstanding all the resolutions that had been passed against it when I was with you in August last. When I considered that the missionaries were furnishing the instruments of death to these poor savages by supplying them with muskets and powder, I could not but feel the greatest indignation at such a thought. The argument generally urged has been that neither timber nor pork could be bought from the natives without muskets and powder. This I do not credit."


It was not uncommon for their settlements to be ransacked by passing by Maori from other Nga Puhi hapu. Physical threats were made but rarely carried out, the Missionaries were never equals in their eyes.

Essay Writing

You have to write an essay this weekend. I’ve told you the story of Yanos who wrote 14 practice essays in one year and achieved some excellent results. He proved that practice makes perfect. If he can, then so can you. The biggest barrier to success always seems to be the students themselves.

This Essay asks why did Europeans decide to settle in NZ before 1840.

There were many groups who visited NZ. Explorers who opened NZ up to those who followed. Sealers and Ocean Whalers who generally came for short periods, but occasionally stayed as voluntary (or not) Pakeha Maori. Shore Whalers and Traders who often lived amongst their hosts also becoming Intermediaries.

You do not need to include groups we haven’t covered yet. (More later!)

For each group you must have a named example(s) with a brief bio and should be able to name the area and Iwi involved.

The final part of the Decision AS asks for Effect of this decision. The main reason is the contact and trade opportunities that having pakeha gave to the host Iwi. Kororareka is one obvious example. There are others.

The Intermediaries handout is worth a look, as is the DNZB folder. The first 5 bio’s are especially useful.

Good Luck.

Work for Wednesday 14th March

The Class which runs period 5 should already know that I will be on a fieldtrip to the Kapiti Coast with the Level 3 Geography Class. If you are not on the trip then you should ensure you READ pages 22-27 of the handout and complete the three questions on the Intermediaries. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, read the last two articles on the Elizabeth and Alligator affairs.

The double period coming up, you will need the Write-on-Notes and the Handouts. We are going to start essay writing!!!

Going Native: Pakeha-Maori

There is a wonderful term for people who pass through a place as a temporary resident. It is Sojourner. I wish I'd known this when I lived in London, it sounds so much better than...actually I don't know what we called ourselves, we were just Kiwis on our OE. Sojourner sounds so much cooler.

This is an interesting group mainly because so little evidence was left behind by them. Known as Pakeha-Maori or Intermediaries or Go-Betweens they bridged the gap between Maori and visiting Europeans. Few were literate and so most of the records about them are written by others. Most of these records are written by Missionaries and often reflect the bias these writers held about such men (and women). Their writing is filled with references to uncouth behaviour, undesirables filled with vice and their thoroughly bad influence on Maori. There were no compliments, only complaints.

Recognising that their writing contains bias is an important historical skill. Being able to describe and explain the biased references is useful for the end of year exam. Knowing why they held these views is also important.

Missionaries wanted to be the sole filters of European (British) culture and civilisation. Having someone else interpret the culture for Maori in ways that might inhibit their own activities was not something they liked. Few of the 'Intermediaries' were religious or church goers, in fact most would have had a pretty poor view of Missionaries and religion. Many of the Pakeha Maori were former convicts and possibly a number would have been Irish and Catholic. Their view of the Anglican Church would have been even lower and the (CMS) Missionary would have represented everything their disliked about the establishment. Many would have had experience of the CMS from Sydney and few would have viewed Marsden with any great favour. They apparently often counselled Maori against the Missionaries.

Possibly another reason was simply their horror at the thought of White Men 'going native' and abandoning the (superior?) european civilisation for the degenerate and permissive life amongst the natives.

The Pakeha Maori themselves were a disparate group. the first of them fled their ship in 1799 and there were many different types of Pakeha Maori who followed in the next 70-80 years. The last Pakeha Maori of the traditional type was possibly Kimble Bent who fought with Titokowaru. Many were escaped convicts, some were unhappy seamen, others were traders or adventurers. Your hand out notes (see pages 22-27) describe the many types of Pakeha Maori, and need little explanation here.

What is important is to recognise that Maori only accepted Pakeha into their society on their own terms and the Pakeha had to be worth something to them, whether as a 'pet' or as a respected tohunga. If the Pakeha wasn't worth anything then they would be rejected or eaten. Several seamen who fled their ships were hunted down and returned because local Maori could not risk the loss of trading opportunities.

On the other hand a Pakeha suitably absorbed into the Hapu could be especially useful in translating with other Pakeha. Dicky Barretts help in the sale of Wellington being a poor example, as he spoke a pidgin Maori that failed to adequately explain their loss of land. There were also Pakeha Maori who lived on the periphery of their local Iwi like Tapsel or Guard.

It seems in many respects that the Intermediaries impact has been downplayed. The Missionaries can be blamed for that. F EManing is one of the few Pakeha Maori who did leave a written record. But his later antipathy toward Maori may colour his vews.

Read TREVOR BENTLEYS "PAKEHA MAORI" available in the school library.

Otherwise ensure you have read pages 22-27 and finished the questions on pages 27.

Who said History Classes were boring?

As it happens I don't go around stabbing students but we did need to move quickly to save Billie. The link she mentioned is HERE. I would like to thank Sam and Lani for their prompt actions which went a long towards keeping things together until help arrived. The whole class reacted really well and I'm really glad we went through the drill before it actually happened. See you in class.

The Shore Whalers

As we move into the 1820’s the great whales began to run out. Increasingly it became difficult to justify the economics of running a large ship and crew for long periods at sea.

Entrepreneurs in Sydney identified a cheaper method. It was easier and cheaper to keep a small crew often supplemented by local natives at a shore base close to the whale’s migratory paths (Just like Bay Whalers but cheaper).

The stations were established in the Bay of Plenty, along the east coast of both the North and South Islands. Some were temporary some were not. They were often there for long periods. The last of the Cook Strait Stations did not close until 1964.

Whaling Stations like Thoms, Barrets, the Guards, the Wellers or Jillets were set up in places like Kapiti or Porirua waiting for the ‘Right’ Whales to pass by. Whales were sighted, chased, harpooned, flensed and boiled down to oil. Every so often a ship would be dispatched to collect the oil from the stations.

Life on these stations was rough and ready. (Yes I know I used the same term for the sealers, and I’ll probably use it again.). Many more cultured observers ( Edward Wakefield included) mentioned how dreadful their conditions were as was the culture of drinking and cursing.

One thing that made them different was the way that they assimilated into local Maori society. Their presence was important to Maori, it gave them the same access to European goods that was enjoyed by Nga Puhi, thus having a Pakeha set up close to you was essential. Having a Pakeha made you “safe” and would encourage others to call by, increasing trade opportunities.

Many Europeans took (usually, but not always temporary) Maori wives and left behind numbers of half-caste children who were absorbed back into their Whanau. Maori did not view the children as anything other than Maori and they assimilated more easily into Maori society while they would have been vilified if returned to Pakeha society.

The Stations acted as a new conduit for Europe into New Zealand. They allowed more Maori from more extensive areas of the country. More Maori met Europeans, their goods and their culture. It opened more of New Zealand to exploration and exploitation.

Some of these Whalers became so entwined in their Tribes that they helped defend them against attacking Taua (War Parties) or even migrated with them when attacks drove them from their traditional lands. Some became so embedded that their names are now a well known and valued part of the Iwi.

Whalers like Johnny Jones established small empires in the areas they lived in.

The impact of the Shore Whalers should not be underestimated.

Ensure you have read the Shore Whalers section of the Handout and answered the questions that follow on page 18.

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).

Differences of Opinion

I used the term Shore and Bay whalers earlier as being the same. Don Grady has written several books on Whaling in New Zealand. In his book (Sealers and Whalers in NZ waters) Bay Whalers are simply Ocean Whalers who anchored in the path of migrating Whales and intercepted them as they passed by - Kapiti island is one place he suggests this happened. Shore Based Whalers are obviously different as we are about to find out.

In terms of reading. I am away today (Tuesday) as my daughter has croup and will need a couple of days to recover. I'll be back on Wednesday. In the meantime continue to read the handout on Shore Based whaling.

If you have finished the questions on page 16, complete the questions on page 18 and read through to the end of page 21. If you don't already have one go to the library and get a copy of Michael Kings "Penguin History of New Zealand". Its an easy read and a good introduction to the topics we will cover.

Hell hole of the Pacific

In the past students have often seen the whalers as an amorphous group. It is however important that you differentiate between the Ocean Whalers who frequented (mainly) the Bay of Islands and the Shore or Bay Whalers who were scattered about the coastline. Ocean Whalers originated mainly from the USA. Most came from New England. There were crews from Britain and France but the US dominated the trade.

When they needed some RnR they made for Kororareka. It offered everything they needed without the constraints of the law. Whaling crews numbered between 20-50 and there could be as many as 15 ships in the Bay at one time. New Zealand lay outside any of the European/American nations sphere of influence and thus beyond the reach of their legal systems. While this might have given the captains and crews a free licence to do as they liked, their behaviour was tempered by the fierce nature of the local Maori.

Nga Puhi controlled the Bay of Islands although different hapu groups dominated the north and south sides of the bay. Kororareka became hugely popular with Whalers, with hundreds of visits made in the next few decades. Paul Moon has written an excellent book about the decades before 1840. Grog shops opened along the shoreline and were interspersed with Brothels. Nga Puhi supplied the Brothels with women.

Some students find this concept distasteful, but we should be careful about applying 21^st century morals on people from the past who operated in a completely different time with differing values. Maori simply viewed sex in a different way, and there was little stigma attached to the trade (although I don’t believe the daughters of chiefs would have been offered to a European unless there was a distinct material advantage to the Iwi.)

Whaling crews were ashore for only a few weeks while the ships were cleaned, refitted and supplies acquired. Many of the crew took an advance on their share of the profits, spending the money on rum and women. Some of the crew could often spend the better part of their wages during this shore leave and arrive back in Nantucket no better off than when they had left 3 years before. Experienced and enterprising crew sometimes acquired cheap muskets (some left over from the War of Independence and were quite dangerous) before they left and then traded these for the favours of a Maori maiden

With no law in the town there was no limit on the behaviour of Europeans. Fighting and Drunkenness (and Drunken Fighting) were common. Behaviour was terrible and more cultured observers gave the town the name ‘Hellhole of the Pacific’. For many the town represented all that was bad about European culture and was to be abhorred.

Nga Puhi prospered under this regime. No other Iwi had as much access to Europeans and the goods they offered. This gave them enormous Mana within the wider area as well as their related Iwi north and south of the Bay.

Like other tribes many Nga Puhi took the opportunity to use the Whalers to travel overseas. Maori travelled widely around the Pacific, many landed in Sydney. While there they were often taken in by Samuel Marsden, at his property in Paramatta. Several like Te Pahi and Ruatara spent long periods there, in Ruataras case convalescing after being ill treated on his Whaler.

This gave them a greater insight into the world that existed outside of New Zealand. very quickly the Nga Puhi began to realize the advantage of possessing Muskets.

Intermediaries Hand Out

This is the first handout of many (about 14) that will be handed out during the year. Pages 2-3 are explanations of the 2 external standards that you will sit at the end of the year. Page 4 has questions that will help you focus you on these standards. Pages 5 to 9 concentrate on the Sealers and page 9 have more questions that will help you. Afterwards you should have read up to and completed Self Check #1, and pages 57-8. Over the weekend read Pages 10-16 of the handout on the Ocean Whalers. There are questions on the whalers on page 16. Have a good weekened.