Book Review: The Pioneers – Makers of New Zealand

May 31, 2025
, , , , , , Book Review

By Tony Orman for Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ Inc

The Pioneers – Makers of New Zealand” by John McLean, published by Tross Publishing. Price $40.

Today, there have been deliberate attempts by some self interested people to serve their personal agendas by rewriting New Zealand’s history and consequently denigrate the European colonists. As such history is in danger of being badly corrupted. 

“The Pioneer Makers of New Zealand” admirably does not seek to be judgemental but to be factual through the eyes of those 19th century pioneers.  The author has made a conscious effort to avoid any slant on history by quoting the actual words of the settlers themselves.

In adopting this approach there’s another positive spinoff in that brings to life the highs and lows of life of those settlers who sacrificed lives of comfort, indeed luxury in the UK, for an adventurous new life full of the unknown and inevitable challenges.

Historian John McLean has degrees in history and law. His forbears included early 1860 pioneers and also contractor John McLean whose firm in the late 19th century, built bridges, railways, ports, Auckland’s electric tramway system and the early stages of the Otira tunnel.

With these qualifications the author by quoting individual settlers impressions of their new land, has painted a colourful written picture of the daunting conditions and challenges the pioneers faced in setting up life in the new colony. Numerous historical photographs enhance the portrayal.

Egalitarian

Of particular note to the outdoors and recreations is that the pioneers quietly applauded in the deliberate egalitarian character of the new country. There must have been a strong underlying joy by the settlers in the freedom in escaping the strict feudal class society of Britain where the best trout and salmon fishing, pheasant and grouse shooting and deerstalking belonged to the wealthy upper class who could afford the high access fee. The plebs couldn’t afford it.

That ethos of equal opportunity for all was installed into the new colony’s parliamentary laws such the 1908 Fisheries Act where selling fishing rights was prohibited.

The “new found freedom” aspect is also relevant to the outdoors and fishing, hunting and tramping, in that it’s reflected in the spirit of those pioneers with their sense of adventure, perseverance in the face of challenges and characterised by a sense of independence and achievement even in the face of adversity..

It’s interesting to consider those qualities in the light of today’s society.  Back in those pioneering days, New Zealanders were a land-conscious outdoor people. The   New Zealander’s face was weather-beaten, the skills were muscular and families drew sustenance from the land whether hunting, fishing and/or the home vegetable patch. 

Flabby

But society is now falling prey to the weakness of an indoor nation and the flabbiness and obesity of a sedentary society. Mentally, society is at odds within itself, increasingly rent by argumentative division on several fronts, narrow minded self-interest, greed and a few other negative traits.

Author John McLean writes “The pioneer period—called for human qualities that are no longer required in the modern world—(such as) indomitable courage, resourcefulness, perseverance and endurance”. 

Pioneering was not for the faint hearted. The voyage would take five months or longer in a tightly packed, smelly and at times rat-infested ship. The settlers would arrive at a small port with limited facilities with no certainty of accommodation and even roads. New Zealand was very much in its pristine state, inhabited by a native race who tended to inter-tribal war, even cannabilism while the land was largely forested.and roadless.

Kiwi Spirit

The author by seemingly meticulous research and obvious skilful writing depicts how the pioneers coped and developed an admirable Kiwi spirit that was to earn admiration on the land, sporting field and in two World Wars.

Incidentally this is the third book in a trilogy about that John McLean has written, the other two being “Voyages of the Pioneers to New Zealand 1839-85″ and “Sweat and Toil; the Building of New Zealand.” 

“The Pioneer Makers of New Zealand” as seen largely  through the eyes of those early settlers is an intriguing and interesting read. Highly recommended.

Pioneer Book.jpeg

IS PAUL GOLDSMITH THE BIGGEST LIAR IN PARLIAMENT?

November 17, 2024
, , Maori, NZ Parliament

By Toby Whittaker

Although unlikely to be passed into law the ACT Party’s Treaty Principles Bill has certainly exposed some ugly facets of New Zealand politics – from the uncivilised and barbarous disruption of Parliament by Maori Party M.P.s (cheered on by Labour and the Greens) to the cowardice of the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, in promising to “support” the Bill through its First Reading and Select Committee hearings but then, after being “got at” by tribal thugs at Waitangi on 6th February, he ran backwards like a frightened rat.

In the words of Dr. John Robinson in his latest book, Who Really Broke the Treaty?, “To any reasonable person this (“support”) implies positive support throughout that stage, with further action guided by the report of the Select Committee….All submissions would be listened to by the Select Committee and Parliament, so we were led to believe. No way. Luxon announced in no uncertain terms that National would not support the Bill, no matter what the public opinion is. David Seymour then commented sensibly that only after the public has spoken will a final decision be made.” Why would people bother to make a submission when they have been told by Luxon that whatever they say will not be listened to?

Worse, National has embarked on a campaign of lies to discredit this worthy Bill, with Minister for Treaty Negotiations, Paul Goldsmith, apparently being given the role of Liar-in-Chief. In an e-mail to the well-known writer and commentator, Amy Brooke, Goldsmith wrote, “Successive National Governments have worked well with Maori while ensuring equal citizenship and equal opportunity for all New Zealanders”.

Goldsmith entered Parliament as a National List M.P. In 2011, having previously worked for that notoriously biased institution, the Waitangi Tribunal. Below is a list of statutes that the National Government (including Goldsmith) voted for which grant considerable race-based rights to those of part-Maori descent over and above all other New Zealanders.

Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2102 – decisions to be informed by a Maori perspective; hearings must recognise tikanga Maori where appropriate and receive oral or written evidence in Maori.

National Animal Identification and Tracing Act 2012 – values to be protected include the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, waters, sites, wahi tapu and taonga.

Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River Act) 2012 – an anti-democratic co-governance entity set up to manage the Waipa, many of the appointments being race based – part-Maoris only!

Ngati Manuhiri Claims Settlement Act 2012 – another co-governance racket giving certain race-based appointments to part-Maoris only.

Game Animals Council Act 2013 – Council members must have knowledge of, and experience relating to, Maori “hunting interests”.

Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 – majority of members of an appointed territorial authority panel must have knowledge of and expertise in relation to planning, design, and engineering and appropriate knowledge and experience relating to the Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga Maori.

Mokomoko (Restoration of Character, Mana, and Reputation) Act 2013 – a parliamentary pardon for the brutal murderers of Rev. Carl Volkner in Opotiki in 1866! The master-mind of this atrocity was Kereopa te Rau of the Ngati Rangiwewehi clan of the Arawa tribe who hailed from the north-west shore of Rotorua. In the words of James Cowan, the leading historian of the Maori wars, “He was a thoroughgoing old savage, and he quickly plunged into the worst excesses, even cannibalism”. Volkner, who had ministered to the local Maoris for several years, was beheaded and, in the words of Captain Levy of the Eclipse who was present, “The natives then formed themselves into a line and prepared to taste the blood as it ran out of the head and body”. 

They then gathered inside Volkner’s church and Kereopa, dressed in Volkner’s long black robe, placed the dripping head on the reading desk and filled the communion cup with Volkner’s blood; this was then passed around and drunk. From the pulpit Kereopa ate Volkner’s eyes in front of about a hundred natives. Four of the murderers, Mokomoko, Heremita, Kahupaea and Kereopa, were put on trial, convicted and hanged. But on 21 June, 2014, the National government of which Goldsmith was a part, pardoned the murderers for their horrific crime – a murder that was witnessed by over a hundred Maoris plus some settlers. Then to drive home the insult to Volkner’s memory even further this same shameless National government of 2014 gave $6 million of taxpayers’ money plus a forest and several valuable hot springs around Rotorua to Kereopa’s greedy tribe. 

Ngati Whatua o Kaipara Claims Settlemwent Act 2013 – claims “The relationship between Ngati Whatua and the Crown was founded on the partnership created in 1840 through the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi”. This is a lie as there was no partnership of any kind.

Patents Act 2013 – established a Maori Advisory Committee whose members must have knowledge of matauranga and tikanga, to advise on patent applications.

Arts Council of N.Z. Toi Aotearoa Act 2014 – at least four members must have knowledge of te ao Maori and tikanga. The Council must recognise in the arts “the role of Maori as tangata whenua”.

NZ Mission Trust Board (Otamataha) Empowering Act 2014 – declared that the 1852 Crown grant that awarded the land to the Church Mission Society was in breach of the “Teaty principle of active protection” even though there is no such principle in the Treaty and, in fact, such “principles” were only invented in 1986!

Tapuika Claims Settlement Act 2014 – set up co-governance of the Kaituna River; the Authority must acknowledge the interests of iwi. 

Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 – scientific investigation of any site of interest to Maori requires the consent of iwi and hapu.

Environmental Reporting Act 2014 – require that synthesis and domain reports “are informed by a Maori perspective” and that regulations can not be made without consultation with iwi authorities.

Hawkes Bay Regional Planning Committee Act 2015 – an anti-democratic statute that requires co-governance between “mana whenua and elected representatives” overseeing development and review of Resource Management Act documents. The Committee standing orders “must not contravene tikanga Maori” (whatever that means). 

Ngai Takoto Claims Settlement Act 2015, Te Aupouri Claims Settlement Act 2015, and Te Rarawa Claims Settlement Act 2015 – all these Acts give tribal rights over conservative land – land that should belong to all New Zealanders. 

Environmental Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Act 2016 – two members of the powerful transitional governing body must be nominees of the greedy Ngai Tahu tribe and must have knowledge of and expertise in relation to tikanga.

Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Recovery Act 2016 – members of the Recovery Review Panel to have knowledge of matauranga and tikanga. 

Te Ture mo Te Reo Maori Language Act 2016 – states (falsely) that the Maori language is protected by Article Two of the Treaty.

Land Transfer Act 2017 – an application for adverse possession cannot be made against Maori land – only against non-Maori land.

Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 – agreements to provide a mechanism for tangata whenua through iwi authorities to participate in resource and decision-making processes.

Te Awa Tupuna (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 – gives part-Maoris considerable powers over the Wanganui River.

So, having voted for these and other measures doling out race-based privileges and resources to part-Maoris at the expense of the rest of us, Goldsmith has the effrontery to declare that National Governments have “ensured equal citizenship and equal opportunity for all New Zealanders”!!!!!!!!!!!! Was he asleep when he voted for all these pieces of racist legislation? 

It is bad enough for the National Party to try to sabotage this Bill that is designed to restore equality of citizenship to a country that has lost it over the years – thanks to National, Labour and our rotten judges. But please Mr. Goldsmith spare us the lie that National has given equality of citizenship and opportunity over the years when in fact it has done the exact opposite.

Book Review: ‘Who Really Broke the Treaty?’

June 30, 2024
, , , , Book Review, Treaty of Waitangi

The answer to the book’s title question has huge implications for New Zealand

By Roger Childs

Waikanae’s John Robinson is one of the country’s best historians. He has written more than ten books on New Zealand history covering various subjects related to the last 200 years and the present scene. They are all based on extensive research with an emphasis on primary sources and the observations of people writing at the time. He rejects Maori oral history as being unreliable, a conclusion endorsed by the great Maori writer Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck)

Basically, John Robinson says that it was Maori who broke the Treaty and he provides copious evidence to back his conclusions, which begs the question what have we got a Waitangi Tribunal for?

Set up in 1975 the Tribunal has been investigating and ruling on breaches of the Treaty by the Crown and European settlers. Maori breaches are not considered – murdering civilians, robbing goods and stock from farmers and other settlers, burning down homesteads and farm buildings, and rebelling against the government.

Personal experience

The author has first-hand experience of the dishonesty of the Tribunal. As an expert in demography (the study of population) some years ago he was asked to provide evidence linking the population decline of Maori after the signing of the Treaty to the introduction of British control and subsequent colonization. After extensive research, John Robinson could find no evidence of such a correlation, but concluded that the slaughter of thousands of women and girls in the pre-1840 inter-tribal wars meant that after 1840 there was a shortage of potential Maori mothers and a consequent decline in population numbers.

The Waitangi Tribunal would not pay him unless he changed his findings. (This also happened to academic Giselle Byrnes.) This patent dishonesty of the Tribunal set John Robinson on a path of writing books that rejected the falsification of our country’s story and set out to tell the truth about New Zealand’s History.

A dishonest and incompetent organization

In examining the breaches of the Treaty, the author highlights the many shortcomings of the Waitangi Tribunal and how it has steadily grown into a self-perpetuating racist body with the goal of dividing the country and promoting the special rights and status of part-Maori.

Robinson covers how the organization:

  • uses a variation of the unauthorized English “Freeman Treaty” to make decisions instead of relying on the only valid agreement: Te Tiriti o Waitangi which was written in Te Reo;
  • fails to acknowledge the manifold breaches of Te Tiriti by Maori:
  • encourages Maori groups to “find” evidence of the Crown and other authorities disadvantaging Maori:
  • has made judgements based on inaccurate evidence, which have given hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to tribes, and divided the nation in a New Zealand version of apartheid.

He favours the immediate closing down of the Tribunal and an end to the “Treaty industry” gravy train. He laments the fact that mainstream media support the status quo and will not objectively examine current Tribunal issues.

What lies ahead?

The author is not confident that the present National-led Coalition will turn the tide. He likes the idea of David Seymour’s proposals to enshrine three basic principles about New Zealand in our “constitution” – upholding sovereignty, furthering democracy and supporting equality for all. How could anyone not support such fundamental beliefs?

However, he is dismayed that Prime Minister Luxon is lukewarm on the ideas of having a referendum on the principles, and given a positive majority, passing legislation to embed them in our constitution.

John Robinson is concerned that most of the country’s population are complacent about the current situation – New Zealanders lack an understanding of the shared ideas that bind a nation together. The last two sentences of the book spell out what needs to happen. New Zealand must collectively wake up and turn from separatism, racism and apartheid to equality and unity. Until then, the majority will continue to be subordinate, and the possibility of racial conflict will remain.

An important book to read

Who Really Broke the Treaty is right up to date and amongst several useful appendices are the Coalition Agreements which spell out, among many policy goals, ACT’s and New Zealand First’s wishes related to dealing with the present inequality and division. National has agreed, but is currently dragging its feet on taking action.

John Robinson’s timely 158 page book is fluently written and carefully researched with supporting footnotes and a comprehensive set of references. Ask for it at your local bookshop or library and if, because of political bias, they don’t stock Tross publications, tell them it’s time to stop their boycott on the company’s many excellent books. Alternatively, you can order online at https://www.trosspublishing.com/ and purchase the book for $35, postage paid.

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