Adventures in New Zealand - Essay Example

? Adventures in New Zealand Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand who infiltrated the country between 900 and 1400 A.D. Before the penetration of the European influence and western culture they thrived in isolation for several centuries with their own culture and tradition. Maori were tribal societies (iwi) ruled by chiefly rulers who were thought to be descendants of gods. The European and the western influence first injected into their society in 1642. Briton James Cook, a British explorer established harmonious relation with them. By the 1800s emerging concept of colonization made frequent visits of European ships into New Zealand. Severe permeation of the Europeans resulted in the alteration of the Maori culture and reduction in their population followed by conflicts and turmoil. British rule in New Zealand was established by signing the treaty of Waitangi between the Maori representatives and the British. The treaty granted British citizenship to the Maori and recognized their land rights (Gream 1999). In his famous book Adventure in New Zealand Jerningham elucidated his experience of the expeditions encountered by him in New Zealand and also his interaction with the Maori tribe. First, I am going to focus upon a part of the book in this paper where Jermingham set out for the purchase of the Port Nicholson in New Zealand. I will also bring into focus his interaction with the Maori. Secondly, I will depict the author’s viewpoint about the Maori and the contrast between Europeans and the Maori. Biography of Edward Jerningham Wakefield A literary maestro and highly intellectual British politician, Edward Jerningham Wakefield (1820-1879), son of the colonist Edward Gibbon Wakefield spent his early childhood in England serving as an agent and explorer for his father’s chief colonial enterprise, the New Zealand Company, which was involved in land settlement deals. In August 1839 he arrived in New Zealand and engaged himself in the works of land purchasing expeditions. His explorations were mainly concentrated in the districts of Wanganui, Upper Rangitikei, Taupo and Nelson. In 1850 he moved to Christchurch in New Zealand and had two stints as a member of parliament and died in 1879. The contemporary period of his lifetime was generally referred the era of colonization. His father Edward Gibbon Wakefield was known for his significant role in reaping enormous profits through his land settlement enterprise, the New Zealand Company. Jerningham Wakefield was a hardcore proponent of colonization and well known for his colonial explorations in South Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Adventure in New Zealand  The Tory (name of the ship) expedition was led by Edward senior’s brother, Colonel William Wakefield and his son Edward Jerningham Wakefield who was then 19 years old. Jerningham was the secretary of his uncle and was vested with the responsibility of executing various transactions. They planned to purchase Port Nicholson. On September 25th, 1839 the goods intended to be presented were arranged in the deck of Tori where hundreds of natives were present. Although the natives conversed among themselves, they did not hinder the process of transaction. But when they filled up a good deal of room on the deck which was wanted in order to segregate things Jerningham’s uncle wanted an explanation from chief Warepori and told him to guide them towards the shore. On 26th September when all the articles were selected and arranged message was sent to the shore addressing the chiefs. The chiefs came and carefully examined the quality and quantity of the articles. However they were very much embarrassed seeing the distribution of the goods among the six minor tribes. In order to have a strict vigilance on the transaction process Colonel Wakefield sent a young native missionary teacher. But it was found that he was himself attracted towards the presents and tried to appropriate them for himself rather than authorizing and influencing the local chiefs. Colonel Wakefield allotted ample presents for the settlements of the land with the tribes. The maori made much talking and scrambles among them regarding the distribution of goods. As guided by Jerningham, Warepori tried to prevent the scrambles by communicating with and influencing the tribes. Warepori influenced many of the chiefs among whom some were convinced but many of them stuck to their traditional custom as they believed that “personal prowess obtained the better share.” Taking the advantage of this difference in opinion, chief Puakawa raised his voice in favor of the abolition of this process. But he was strongly opposed. Evaluating the articles of which the payment consisted, Puakawa stated that this led to rampant uneven distribution of goods. He said that, “everyone had cleared a bit of land, and that many would find themselves deprived of that, without anything in exchange. What will you say, when you find that you have parted with all your land from the Rimarapa to the Turakirai, and from the Tararua to the sea?” (Wakefield 85). Colonel Wakefield not only wanted to buy the lands but he their rights, claims and interests. Puakawa stated that, “What will you say when many, many white men ………………….ship to beg for shelter and hospitality?” (Wakefield 87). This reflects Puakawa’s genuine urge to his fellow men not to give up their lands against presents. Jerningham at this gave a thought to himself that Puakawa’s view will change when he will see that the white men will actually use their superiority and legal rights “only to afford the most extended hospitality and kindness to such as himself, and to raise him up to a level with themselves” (Wakefield.88). In the voyage Jerningham was also accompanied by Nayti, a Maori who lived with Jerningham’s father in London. Travelling towards Taranaki, Edward found his Maori companion Nayti in an unpleasant gesture. Nayti was wrapped up in a blanket and lost nearly all of his European possessions. Edward remembers Nayti as a person who in his British times was very much acquainted and adapted with the British environment. But in his native country Nayti lost all his belongings while trying to bribe with valuable property to earn the goodwill of his fellow countrymen. Jerningham noticed that, “among the natives it is very unusual to refuse a request for the gift of anything; only such a request is generally prevented by a natural modesty among themselves” (Henare, 133). Later on Jerningham collected various natural history specimens and artifacts and carried on his expedition over many areas in order to settle lands with the Maori for his company and also unfurled the relationship between the Europeans and the Maori. Conclusion The simplicity that the Maori were subject to reflected from their greed towards ordinary gifts that they received against selling their lands to European people. Interestingly the common Maori was in favor of infiltration of presents but their chiefs were against the same which is reflected from the words of chief Puakawa in this paper. They believed that this endeavor can adversely affect their country’s future. But Jerningham believed that the White people through their superiority and rights will actually benefit the tribal people and will help them to be at par with the European culture. When the presents were distributed the Maori quarreled among them rigorously which resulted in uneven distribution of commodities. This weakness of the Maori was identified by the author. Again, Nayti’s loss of every precious belonging, when Wakefield left for another expedition reflects a striking difference between the outlook of a Maori and of a European. Wakefield reflects the European view that wealth and esteem could be properly gained through the accumulation of material possessions and on the other hand Nayti is much less touched by the concept of accumulation of wealth. The author tries to infer that Europeans were known for possessing wealth and the New Zealanders for giving them away which made them dominated under the European influence. References Gream, Matthew, Art, Belief and Experience in the Maori of New Zealand, 1999, May 6, 2012 from: http://matthewgream.net/Professional/HistoryOfArt/maori.pdf Henare, Amiria J.M., Museums, Anthropology and Imperial Exchange, Cambridge University Press, 2005. Murray, John, Edward Jerningham Wakefield. Adventure in New Zealand, 1845, May 5, 2012 from: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/virt-exhib/realgold/newzealand/edward-jerningham-wakefield.html Wakefield, Edward Jerningham. Adventure in New Zealand, from 1839 to 1844: with some account of the beginning of the British colonization of the islands, J.Murray, 1845 Read More