The Maori population of New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the growth or the Maori population since 1769. The primary aim is to discuss the two major determinants of trends - mortality and fertility. Maori population trends can only be viewed in terms of European contact, New Zealand's subsequent social history, and as one aspect of contemporary pattern of race relations, all of which are surveyed briefly in Chapter One. Before commencing the demographic analysis in detail, Chapter Two discusses the sources and scope of Maori population data. Chapters One and Two form the introductory section, Part A. Part B is concerned with the demographic history or the Maoris from 1769 to 1921. Thus, Chapter Three analyses the quality of the available data. Chapter Four studies mortality in the period by reviewing the circumstantial evidence relating to prevalent diseases. From this review and from a few crucial items of direct evidence an interpretation is made of the levels and trends of mortality. A similar plan is followed for the study of fertility in Chapter Five. Chapter Six in Part B summarises first the decline of the Maori population from 1769 and then its subsequent increase until 1921. Part C deals with the period of rapid increase since 1922. Chapter Seven answers two questions relating to the basic structure or the population: is it 'closed' and is it 'quasi-stable'? Then the internal accuracy of censuses and intercensal anomalies are analysed and some adjustments are made, mainly to vital data of the period 1926-35. Chapter Seven concludes with a discussion or life-table construction. Chapters Eight to Eleven deal with mortality since 1922. Chapter Eight shows that a rapid mortality transition has occurred only since World War II. This mortality transition is studied in greater detail in the two folloWing Chapters, which cover causes of death and infant mortality. The study of mortality is concluded in Chapter Eleven, which determines the extent of Maori and non-Maori mortality differentials and reviews a number of factors which may bring about these differences. Finally, several possible causes of post-war Maori mortality declines are analysed. Chapter Twelve studies the levels of fertility since 1922 and suggests some causes of high levels. It concludes with an analysis of regional differentials and discusses the possible implications of these differences. Chapter Thirteen is concerned with population growth and some interrelated social and economic factors, such as rural-urban migration and its consequences. Chapter Fourteen examines the implications ot present growth patterns by examining three projected patterns or population growth over the next fifteen years based on the following assumptions: (a) that present levels of mortality and fertility remain constant; (b) that mortality declines but fertility levels remain unchanged; and (c) that both mortality and fertility decline.