The History of Māori Urbanisation

The Second Great Migration

Definition of Urban: Having to do with a town or city.
Population Requirement: To be classified as a city in New Zealand, a minimum population of 50,000 people is needed.
Rural: Pertains to the country or countryside.
Urbanisation: The process through which towns or cities grow as more people move from rural areas to urban areas.
Discussion Questions:
  - What does urban mean?
  - What is the opposite of urban?
  - What do you think urbanisation is?

Before the Second World War

Māori Population Distribution Pre-War: Before the Second World War (1939-1945), a vast majority of Māori lived on papakāinga, which are ancestral lands in rural tribal areas.
Definition of Papakāinga: Ancestral land and home of a Māori kinship group living together in a community. Components can include:
  - Housing.
  - A marae (a communal place).
  - Shared gardens and farming activities.
Statistic: In 1926, about 84% of Māori lived in rural areas.

A Huge Change

Post-War Migration: During and after the Second World War, a significant migration of Māori from rural areas to urban cities began.
Definition of Urbanisation: Movement of people from rural papakāinga to urban areas was termed Urbanisation.
Statistics Over Time:
- 1926: 84% of Māori lived rurally
- By 1986: Only 20% of Māori remained in rural communities, with 80% residing in urban towns and cities.
Characterization of Urbanisation: Called the ‘Second Great Migration’; sometimes seen as a rapid and monumental shift described as an urban tsunami rather than just urban drift.

The Second World War

Impact of the War on Employment: Over 200,000 men joined the armed forces, leaving significant vacancies in local jobs.
Government Measures: New Zealand's government initiated the ‘Manpower’ system to control job allocation and ensure essential industries continued running.
- Year Implemented: 1942; regulations applied to registration for work amongst men aged 18-49 (both Māori and Pākehā), later expanded to include Māori wāhine.
Shift from Rural to Urban: Many Māori were forced to leave papakāinga and family (whānau and hapū) for essential jobs in towns and cities.
Historical Significance: This moment marked a significant turning point in Māori urbanisation, accelerating post-war.

The Post-War Boom

Return of Soldiers: After WWII, the 1950s saw a baby boom and an industrial boom in New Zealand.
Population Statistics: Unemployment during this time dropped to only 1%.

Māori Population Growth

Table of Population Growth:
  - 1921: Māori Population = 53,000 (4.8% of total population)
  - 1951: Māori Population = 134,000 (6.9% of total population)
  - 1961: Māori Population = 210,000 (8.7% of total population)
Observations: The data indicates a consistent increase in the Māori population over these decades.

Māori Urbanisation Statistics

Urban Population Growth:
  - 1926: 16% of Māori lived in urban areas.
  - 1936: 17%
  - 1945: 26%
  - 1956: 35%
  - 1966: 62%
  - 1976: 76%
  - 1986: 80%
Engagement Questions: What statements can be made based on these observations? What questions arise from these statistics?

Push and Pull Factors for Urban Migration

Push Factors (Reasons for moving from papakāinga):
  - Increasing Māori population.
  - Inability of tribal lands to support the growing communities.
  - Declining availability of jobs in traditional industries (e.g., forestry).
Pull Factors (Attractions of urban areas):
  - Greater employment opportunities.
  - Higher wages due to industrial boom.
  - Availability of entertainment, better health, and educational facilities.
  - Presence of whānau already in urban settings.
  - Desire for a modern lifestyle and adventure.
Retention of Urban Life: Many Māori who moved to cities were often reluctant to return to their rural homes.

Government Policies – The Hunn Report

Context: By the 1960s, it was recognized that the future of Māori was increasingly tied to urbanisation.
Hunn Report Publication: In 1961, it was produced by Jack Hunn, commissioned by the Department of Māori Affairs to analyze Māori social, economic, and cultural circumstances.
Focus Areas:
  - Population trends.
  - Housing.
  - Health.
  - Land settlement and legal treatment.
  - Employment and crime statistics.
  - Social and economic inequalities existing between Māori and Pākehā.

Findings of the Hunn Report

Educational Disparities: Māori were under-represented in universities and higher education.
Employment Issues: Māori over-represented in statistics of unemployment and crime.
Health Statistics: Improved rates of infant mortality by 1960 but remained double that of Pākehā.
Life Expectancy: Māori life expectancy was approximately ten years less than that of Pākehā.
Housing Conditions: About 30% of Māori lived in overcrowded housing.
Recommendations: Suggested social reform policies directed at Māori, including encouragement for migration from rural to urban areas.
- Government assistance included accommodation and employment opportunities for Māori transitioning to urban life.

Integration Per Hunn Report

Concept of Integration: Aimed for rapid assimilation of Māori into urban settings guided by expectations of societal blending and cultural exchange.
Definition of Integration: To mix with and join a society or group, adapting to suit their lifestyle while retaining some cultural identity.
Integration Groups Overview: Hunn categorizes Māori into three groups based on level of integration:
  - Group A: Fully integrated Māori, well assimilated.
  - Group B: Majority, comfortably navigating both Māori and Pākehā societies.
  - Group C: Unintegrated Māori living in poverty.
Expectations for Groups:
- Ideal goal was to have most Māori in Group B, ideally eliminating Group C.
- Māori would have autonomy in deciding their integration path.

Integration and Culture

Hunn Report Conclusion: Integration was considered a naturally occurring phenomenon worth encouraging alongside modernization, suggesting Māori could maintain distinct cultural attributes while integrating.
Concerns Among Māori: Many recognized that integration efforts could dilute Māori culture, leading to potential assimilation outcomes over time.
- The prevailing view implied Māori culture was outdated and inferior compared to a modern Pākehā lifestyle.

Continuing Cultural Struggles and Responses

Cultural Preservation Efforts: In 1967, a group of apprentice carvers was formed at the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute to preserve traditional carving skills and further cultural knowledge.
Self-Determination: Some Māori began to assert control over which cultural elements to preserve and pass on to future generations.
Historical Context: The Hunn Report's recommendations significantly shaped government policies regarding Māori throughout the late 20th century.

The Impact of Māori Urbanisation

Cultural and Social Impact: The ‘second great migration’ transformed Māori communities and affected New Zealand overall.
- This ongoing shift from rural to urban contexts presents both challenges and opportunities that still resonate in contemporary society.

Discussion Questions

What have you learned that you didn’t know before?
What was the most surprising or challenging aspect of what you learned?
What are your ongoing curiosities regarding Māori experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand?
How has your perspective on Māori histories evolved based on this information?

Optional Activities

Venn Diagram Exercise: Analyze the distinction between integration and assimilation through a comparative diagram.
Artistic Interpretation Activity: Create visual art inspired by Māori cultural narratives and symbolism.