Year of Awakening

Te Ao Hou, December 1960, Page 1

Year of Awakening The year 1960 has been a crucial one in the development of the Maori people. Suddenly, it has seemed, there has been a great flowering of interest in and awareness of the whole race. Newspapers have devoted more space than ever we remember, both editorially and in reporting, to Maori problems and difficulties, to progress and advance, treated in a highly responsible and sympathetic manner. Earlier in the year, the massive campaign organised by the Citizens' All Black Tour Association brought its activities to an unsuccessful, but dignified conclusion. The decision of the Council of the Rugby Union prevailed, but whatever the moral issues involved, one fact emerged clearly: that any suggestion of racial discrimination will be deeply resented and combated by a large proportion of the European population; any slight to the reputation New Zealand has established in this field will be vigorously contested. This is a most heartening sign. We cannot doubt that the main impetus to this upsurge of interest and sympathy with Maori problems has come from the Young Maori Leaders' Conferences. Since Te Ao Hou last went to press there have been Regional Young Leaders' Conferences at Whakatane and Gisborne, and a South Island. Conference at Christchurch, reported in this issue. As we go to press, further regional conferences are being planned at Marton and Kaitaia. The agenda for these conferences have been almost identical; papers on population trends, health, housing, apprenticeship and employment have been finely presented and eagerly discussed. Through the wide and interested reporting these conferences have received, Europeans seem suddenly to have realised that the Maori people, far from being an insignificant minority in the population are increasing their numbers so rapidly that by the end of the century, they may be approaching parity with the European. We print in full in this issue the remarkable paper by Dr Rina Moore, The State of Maori Health, presented at the South Island Conference in August. Those who heard Dr Moore will not easily forget the deep impression she made, both by the quality and insight of her observations and by her manner of delivery, at once scientific and deeply sympathetic. She makes certain observations on housing, population and crime which we trust will form the basis of much fruitful debate, and a notable survey of neurotic behaviour patterns among young Maoris. We feel that no more considered or useful statement has yet been made on this theme.