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.
Imperial policy opposed the idea of 'native peoples' fighting in a war among Europeans. There were fears that they might turn on their colonial masters or cause embarrassment by expecting equal treatment with European soldiers. When it was suggested that Maori be sent to garrison the newly captured German Samoa, New Zealand Administrator Robert Logan cabled the government to say that this might be provocative to the Samoan population. Instead, the Native Contingent of about 500 men left Wellington for Egypt on 14 February 1915.
During the early stages of the First World War there were frequent references to the 'Maori Contingent'. Officially it was called the Native Contingent. The use of the term 'native' in reference to Maori was not dropped from official use until 1947, largely on the initiative of Prime Minister Peter Fraser who was also the Minister of Native Affairs.
Some historians argue that it was in battle that many New Zealanders saw Maori not only as soldiers but as individuals for the first time. (Others note that Maori and non-Maori men had been playing rugby together for decades.) It was perhaps ironic that these New Zealanders had to go to Gallipoli and France to find out about themselves and each other.
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