THE SAMOAN MAU MOVEMENT: A UNITED SAMOAN OPPOSITION

THE SAMOAN MAU MOVEMENT: A UNITED SAMOAN OPPOSITION

1. 18 THE SAMOAN MAU MOVEMENT A UNITED SAMOAN OPPOSITION

2. PROBLEMS IN SAMOA Grievances emerged in Samoa in the early 1920’s. A sense of injustice became more widespread as the possibility for autonomy was vanishing under New Zealand’s colonial paternalism. The problems were evident when talking about authority and sovereignty issues. The chiefs did not like their loss of authority.

3. PROBLEMS IN SAMOA By 1926, anti-New Zealand feeling was strong throughout Samoa and this was reinforced by memories of the handling of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

4. PUBLIC MEETINGS Two public meetings were held at the Market Hall in Apia. In the October 1926 meeting there were 250 Samoans, Papalagi and Afakasi attending. One month later, there were almost 700 people in the attendance. Richardson sent a message to the second meeting in which he expressed his disapproval of local interference in European politics and affairs. The meetings were organised by Olaf Nelson.

5. PATERNALISM Paternalism is a historical force that inhibited any real effort to listen to the Samoan people. When the Mau Movement appeared in 1926, it was not recognised by the New Zealand administration for what is was – a nationalist movement. Paternalism was seen as a negative force. Samoan people were subject to a variety of legal disadvantages: they did not vote or sit on juries, were not trusted to tell the truth and were restricted in their ability to hold property.