Story by Aroha Harris

Main image: Canoes in Auckland Harbour, 1853

Māori visit Sydney and London

From the late 18th century Māori travelled the world, often as crew on sailing ships. Sydney was the first large town most Māori saw. People travelled there to meet British officials or missionaries, and to find out about new technologies.

One of the first Māori to visit London was Moehanga of Ngāpuhi, in 1806. He was presented to King George III.

By the 1840s around 1,000 Māori had travelled overseas.

First New Zealand cities

Māori supported early European settlement, and traded produce for goods such as tools and clothing. They agreed to the sale of land for towns because they thought trade would increase.

In Dunedin, Ngāi Tahu chiefs discussed a deal which would leave a tenth of the land in Māori ownership, but when the deeds were drawn up this land was left off them. The local population was devastated by disease introduced by Europeans, and by the time Dunedin became a city in 1865, Māori were marginalised.

In Christchurch, Ngāi Tahu chiefs signed deeds which set aside settlements and reserves, but when the land was surveyed these areas were reduced or omitted altogether.

In Wellington, New Zealand Company officials negotiated deals to purchase land with some chiefs but not others. By the time the sales were investigated, the European population was 3,500 and Māori numbered only 500–600. Māori retained some of the land set aside for them. In the early 21st century this land was administered by the Wellington Tenths Trust.

Ngāti Whātua in Auckland also rapidly lost land. Their last land at Ōrākei was taken by the government in 1951. When Auckland became a city in 1871, there were few Māori living in New Zealand cities.

Rural Māori and education

In 1900 more than 95% of Māori lived in ruralkāinga (villages), and ventured into cities only on official business or for education.

Māori schools were established by the Catholic and Anglican churches for boys and girls in both Auckland and Christchurch. Few Māori schools prepared students for further academic study. But some Māori made it to university. Peter Buck and Tūtere Wī Repa were the first Māori doctors, and Apirana Ngata was the first Māori lawyer. Ākenehi Hei was the first Māori nurse.

Mass migration to cities

During the Second World War, Māori who did not join the army were encouraged to move to cities and work in essential industries. By 1945, 25% of the Māori population lived in urban areas. Government departments encouraged further migration to cities, and by 1966, 62% of Māori lived in cities.

Adapting to city life

Māori adapted their culture to fit city life. In Wellington, the Ngāti Pōneke club was established in 1937 so young Māori who moved there could socialise and participate in their culture.

Māori sought out churches that other Māori attended, or where services were conducted in Māori.

In time, urbanmarae were established. Some were pan-tribal, while others were connected to just oneiwi. Kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa Māori – pre-schools and schools providing Māori-language education – began in the city. In the 1980s urban authorities developed to support urban Māori.