Cousins by Patricia Grace

5 october 2015

About the author

born in Wellington, NEw Zealand, 1937

First female Maori author to publish a collection of short stories (Waiariki, ’75). Key figure in contemporary world literature and in Maori literature in English. Known for her distinctive prose following the spare style of speech structure in Maori English.

Where is new zealand?

Who are the mãori people?

the Mãori are the indigenous people of New zealand. they have been in new zealand for thousands of years.

they make up about 14% of new zealand’s population.

History in a nutshell

arrived in new zealand from Polynesia starting in c. 1250 CE

europeans begin arriving in new zealand in 16oo’s.

Treaty of Waitangi (signed 8th of Feb, 1840), founding document of New Zealand. Recognized Maori ownership of lands and other properties and gave them rights as British subjects.

Treaty of Waitangi

In the English version, Māori cede the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain; Māori give the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wish to sell, and, in return, are guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions; and Māori are given the rights and privileges of British subjects.

Treaty of Waitangi

in the mãori version the word ‘sovereignty’ was translated as ‘kawanatanga’ (governance).The English version guaranteed ‘undisturbed possession’ of all their ‘properties’, but the Māori version guaranteed ‘tino rangatiratanga’ (full authority) over ‘taonga’ (treasures, which may be intangible).

useful mãori words

Māori /ˈmaʊri/Indigenous people of New

Zealand, also used to refer to their language

Pākehā /ˈpɑːkɪhɑː/ Kiwi’s of European descent

Whakapapa

/ˈfakapapa/Dir: genealogy, but goes

beyond that. Basis of relationship between whanau,

hapu, and iwi.

Whanau /ˈfaːnaʉ/ Family

Hapū /ˈhɑːpuː/ Sub-tribe

Iwi /ˈiwi/ Tribe

works cited & useful links

Other useful Maori words:

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words

Treatment of Maori through NZ history:

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/ethnic-and-religious-intolerance/page-1

Central Maori concepts:

http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2001/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts