Maori Units of the NZEF
Conscientious objection in the First World War
Maori and the First World War
Maori War Effort Organisation 1942-1945
Fighting for equality
Origins - the Maori War Effort Organisation
The MWEO is established
Unable to help with identifying Maori recruits, the Native Department referred the issue to the MP for Western Maori, Paraire Paikea, who chaired the Maori parliamentary committee.
Assisted by two other Ratana-Labour MPs, Eruera Tirikatene and H.T. Ratana, Paikea drafted a scheme for an organisation to handle Maori recruitment and war-related activities. He won Maori support by stressing the organisation's political potential. On 3 June 1942 the government approved the establishment of the Maori War Effort Organisation.
With all tribes involved, the MWEO provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate Maori capacity for leadership and planning. The country was divided into 21 zones and 315 tribal committees were formed; one or two members from each committee joined one of 41 executive committees. Committee work was voluntary and received no government funding. The Maori parliamentary committee insisted that the MWEO follow Maori custom in the selection of 20 Maori recruiting officers to help coordinate the activities of its committees. In July 1942 Cabinet agreed that this principle of tribal leadership should be extended to territorial units in New Zealand and to the Home Guard.
White man's war? - Maori and the First World War
White man's war?
To serve or not
The four Maori MPs were united in their support for Maori participation in the war. The MP for Northern Maori, Te Rangi Hiroa (Peter Buck), led by example and volunteered for service. He sailed with the first contingent in February 1915. He hoped that a wider sense of patriotism might break down the negative aspects of tribalism, which he believed was a handicap to Maori development. Apirana Ngata, MP for Eastern Maori, believed involvement would strengthen Maori claims for equal status with Pakeha.
Response to war - Maori and the Second World War
The Maori response to the declaration of war
‘The price of citizenship’
Telegrams from Maori leaders offering men for both home defence and overseas service reached Parliament soon after war was announced in September 1939. Maori requests for their own military unit followed.
Difficult times - the Maori War Effort Organisation
Threats to continuation
When the Maori War Effort Organisation was established, the government had estimated that it would have a six-month life at a cost of £7,000. In 1943 Paikea asked that the timeframe be extended. He reasoned that as well as being essential to meet the country's wartime needs, the MWEO had a key role in post-war Maori development. It had given Maori a new confidence: government had allowed the Maori people to organise in their own way, to move into the mainstream of economic and social life, and to assume positions of leadership in the wider community. This last had probably been decisive in overcoming Maori suspicion of government at the start of the war. Other significant factors were government's promises that confiscation claims would be settled at the end of the war (particularly important in securing help from Waikato leader, Te Puea) and that there would be adequate rehabilitation for Maori servicemen.
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