Maori Australian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Maori Australian is an Australian of Māori heritage. In 2001, there were approximately 73,000 people with Maori ancestry living in Australia[1]. Maori Australians constitute Australia's largest Polynesian ethnic group[2]

Maori Australians are sometimes referred to (in a non-derogatory way) as "Maussies", "Ngāti Kangaru" or "Ngāti Skippy". "Ngāti" is a common prefix for the names of Maori iwi, suggesting that Maori Australians form a new overseas "tribe" (iwi) of Maori.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Overview

There was no known prehistoric contact between Australian Aboriginals and New Zealand Maori, although the Maori's Polynesian ancestors were accomplished navigators. The first Maori known to have visited Australia travelled to Sydney in European trading ships from 1795 onwards[3]. Maori chiefs traded with Europeans in Australia, bringing back rare goods to New Zealand. An 1823 image of Sydney depicts the presence of Maori.[4]

Maori generally benefited from the same immigration and voting rights as white New Zealanders in Australia, making them a notable exception to the White Australia policy. In 1902, with the Commonwealth Franchise Act, Maori residents in Australia were granted the right to vote, a right denied to Indigenous Australians. During that same period, their right to settle in Australia was facilitated by their shared status as British subjects.[5]

In 1948, however, Australia's federal Minister of Immigration attempted to ban Maori from settling in Australia, in accordance with the White Australia policy. Invoking existing immigration law which excluded Polynesians from Australia, the minister argued that Maori were Polynesians, and could therefore be excluded on racial grounds. The attempt reportedly created a minor diplomatic incident with New Zealand, and the minister involved apologised. Further attempts to restrict Maori immigration in the 1950s were overturned as they violated Maori's rights as British subjects and as New Zealand citizens.[6]

In the 1970s and 1980s, Maori hit by a downturn in their home country's economy emigrated to Australia in search of work.[5]

[edit] Demographics

In 1933, a census indicated there were 197 Maori living in Australia. That number increased to 449 in 1961, 862 in 1966, and 26,000 in 1986.[5]

Significant Maori communities may be found in certain suburbs of Sydney (Waverley, Rockdale, Randwick, Bondi), as well as Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne and Perth. In 2001, there were 19,000 Maori living in Brisbane.[2]

[edit] Culture

[edit] Language use

In 1986, it was found that only 22% of Maori Australians spoke Maori at home, and that very few children spoke the language. At present, Maori languages classes exist in Australia, in an attempt to preserve the Maori language there, and there is a Maori-language radio in Sydney.[7]

[edit] Notable Maori Australians

[edit] Sports

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Māori overseas". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  2. ^ a b c "Māori overseas: Settling in Australia". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  3. ^ "Māori overseas: 18th- and 19th-century travellers". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  4. ^ "The town of Sydney in New South Wales". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  5. ^ a b c "Māori overseas: Emigration to Australia". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  6. ^ "Australia proposes a ban on Māori". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Māori overseas: Retaining Māori culture in Australia". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 

[edit] External links