Maori leadership activities - NCEA Level 2 history

Imperialism, indigenous peoples and the emergence of new nations

Case study: Maori leadership in the 19th century

Related features in NZHistory.net.nz

• The origins of the Maori King movement
• The Maori King movement 1860–1894
• Pai Marire 

Topics include:

• the origins of the King movement
• the search for a king
• the land issue
• troubled times: the build up to war
• the invasion of the Waikato
• maintaining the Kingitanga
• Pai Marire
• the death of Carl Völkner
• war on the Whanganui.

The 19th century was a period of great change for Maori. Traditional forms of leadership and politics were placed under immense pressure. New leaders and styles of leadership emerged in the face of European colonisation. Attempts to create pan-tribal movements were met with resistance by some iwi as well as by Europeans. The NCEA 2 topic of Maori leadership in the 19th century highlights how the lives of people living in New Zealand at the time, especially Maori, were greatly influenced by a number of major forces including:

• nationalism
• imperialism
• colonisation
• religion
• racism
• war
• colonialism
• sovereignty.

In responding to these forces, new movements and forms of leadership emerged. Two examples are the Kingitanga and Pai Marire.

This feature provides students with a context to prepare for:

• Achievement standard 2.5: Examine how a force or movement in a historical setting influenced people's lives.

A range of activities to support this study can be found in the navigation to the immediate right.