Māori Councils Act 1900: suspending floors

Abstract

A recent review of the evolution of sub-floor moisture management (Isaacs "Evolution of Sub-Floor Moisture Management Requirements" pp. 366-394) found the first New Zealand legislative requirement for raised floors was in 1902 in by-laws made under the Māori Councils Act 1900. No similar requirements have been found in contemporaneous European building by-laws until those recommended by the Department of Public Health, Hospitals and Charitable Aid in 1912, which dealt with suspended floor durability.

Although the use of well-made, well-drained earth floors used in Māori housing in pre-European times was in some sectors of Māori society looked back on with nostalgia, the use of suspended timber floors provided a drier, if airier, and healthier option. The Young Māori Party, with the support of the government, created a model by-law with two approaches to raise sitting and/or sleeping above ground. These required either the construction of suspended floor, or the use of a couch or bedstead at least 1 ft (0.3m) above the ground. As well as the ability to fix a time limit for compliance, it also provided the ability to levy fines if the household refused or neglected to comply with the notice. There was little variation in the implementation of the model by-law in the 24 districts established under the Act over nine years (1901 to 1910), except for the raised floor requirement (and associated penalty for non-compliance) which was not implemented in seven (30%) districts. It is concluded that unlike the durability concern of European suspended floor building by-laws, the Māori District by-laws were solely concerned with improvement of the health of the occupants.