Urban Migration and Selective Acculturation: The Case of the Maori

Abstract

The New Zealand Maori represent an important case study in the processes of urbanization and acculturation of an indigenous people. Whereas prior to World War II very few Maoris lived in cities, despite the existence of urban areas since the mid-nineteenth century, the postwar period has witnessed the most rapid urbanization of an indigenous people. By 1966, over one-half of the Maori population resided in cities and urban boroughs. The reasons for the occurrence of this phenomenon are discussed in terms of four factors: (1) changes in the attitudes of the European population; (2) changes in governmental policies concerning the social and economic development of the Maori population; (3) differences between the economic positions of rural and urban Maoris; and (4) the social changes effected by the military and logistic necessities of World War II. One of the most important features of Maori urbanization is that it is occurring without involving extensive loss or destruction of traditional Maori culture. It seems that the rapidity with which urbanization is occurring is at least partly responsible for the maintenance of traditional culture in the urban setting.