State Authority/Indigenous Autonomy: Crown-Maori Relations in New Zealand/Aotearoa 1900–1950

by Richard S. Hill

Examining the relations between the Maori and the Fuling New Zealand government, this text provides an overview of the Maori quest for autonomy in the first half of the 20th century and the government's responses to those requests.

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I have been reading this book for an eternity. It is hardly accessible and far from an easy read.

But I'm glad I bothered because it is filled to the brim with information I haven't found anywhere else. I kinda felt like I needed a nice succinct timeline or something to refer to throughout though. And a character list. Maybe a map or two. You know, like in the Milly Molly Mandy stories.

The best part of the book was that it didn't position Māori as passengers in the story. Neither were they homogenous. And the colonial oppressor was the worst but at times had to bend to the will of Māori groups and individuals in a way that nearly made me applaud.

The book ends in 1950 when the colonial oppressor is on a high and Māori have had a period of being assimilated culturally and politically. I can't wait to find out what happens next!