Americans and Maori - US Forces in New Zealand

Americans and Maori

There were considerable tensions between the Americans and Maori, so strenuous efforts were made to build inter-racial bridges. Princess Te Puea arranged a series of visits to Ngaruawahia in the Waikato, and the Americans were also welcomed by Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club in Wellington and on to a marae in Gisborne.

'Haere mai, Amerikana'

In 1942, New Zealand was far from having 'the best race relations in the world', but there was a wide acceptance of relaxed social intercourse between Maori and Pakeha people in public. Some of the Americans had different traditions. A number came from Texas and other southern states where 'Jim Crow' laws still kept 'niggers' apart and in their place. They did not feel comfortable drinking and eating in the company of Maori; a considerable number of the fights involving American servicemen appear to have been with Maori men, especially soldiers. In addition, there was reported trouble involving Maori women being regarded as 'fair game'.

An ugly situation might well have developed, but strenuous efforts were made to build bridges. The most extensive of these involved Princess Te Puea and the King movement at Ngaruawahia in the Waikato. Towards the end of 1942, after reports of unpleasant incidents, Te Puea decided to approach the Americans and, despite some initial misunderstandings (Te Puea, described as 'this black woman', was kept waiting outside the commandant's office in Manurewa), there was an agreement that groups of Americans should come to the Turangawaewae Marae to meet Maori people and learn something of their culture. Groups of officers travelled to the Waikato on three occasions between November 1942 and February 1943. The meetings were a great success. The officers had carefully learnt the expression 'Tena koe', and the kuia replied by grasping their hands and calling, 'Haere mai, Amerikana'.

The series of gatherings climaxed with a visit by some 500 Americans on 27 March 1943 for the annual regatta. The Maori King, Koroki, made a rare appearance and presented to the Prime Minister, Peter Fraser, some gifts which he in turn presented to the senior American naval officer, Captain S.D. Jupp. One gift was a carved inkstand intended for use by President Roosevelt on the day Japan was defeated. The second was a fruit bowl for Mrs Roosevelt, a symbol of plenty and therefore of peace. In the afternoon the regatta was held, and the Waikato people brought out for the first time two of the three canoes originally built for the 1940 centennial. Even today the Tainui tribes sing a waiata which recalls romantic memories of the wartime visitors from across the seas.

American haka

The Waikato were not the only tribe who made special efforts to welcome the Americans. A popular weekend jaunt for servicemen on leave was a visit to Rotorua, and Whakarewarewa in particular, where they would learn something about Maori carving and tradition. Americans were also welcomed onto marae in Gisborne, and Wellington's Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club made regular visits to the hospital at Silverstream to entertain the patients with waiata. The enthusiastic interest which the Americans showed in Maori culture may be seen, not only in the remarkable photographs of them indulging in haka, but also in the surprising fact that a number of wounded soldiers took up Maori carving as occupational therapy.