Pakeha Uses of Takitimutanga: Who Owns Tribal Tradition?

Abstract

At a history conference in the late 1980s at Victoria University, Michael King asked the question - should Pakeha academics write about Maori topics? He answered himself in the negative, saying that Pakeha historians should stand back from 'Maori history', and wait for Maori historians to come forward to write their own. While King's concern was with the times when European academics, often ill-informed, imposed their views of Maori events on the reading public, in fact Maori academics have been coming forward, writing their own since the 19th century. In that century there were Mohi Te Atahikoia, Takaanui Tarakawa, Hoani Nahe, Hoani Paraone Tunuiarangi, Te Kahui Kararehe and many others. In the twentieth century Apirana Ngata, Te Rangihiroa, Maui Pomare, Pei Te Hurinui Jones and others were followed in recent times by Ruka Broughton, Joe Pere, Pou Temara, Hirini Mead, Ranginui Walker and countless younger people writing and publishing. These people were and are the public face of Maori academia.