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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 6, Issue 6, 2008

Potholes and Pitfalls:

Potholes and Pitfalls:

There is clearly no shortage of material, but there are potholes and pitfalls to be negotiated if an accurate record is to be achieved. The overriding issue is the integrity and accuracy of the sources and questions may arise on a number of grounds. There is the ability of eyewitnesses to interpret what is happening when there are both language and cultural barriers. A newly arrived European may completely misunderstand or misinterpret an action page 21through ignorance of the language or custom. William Wakefield, for example, branded Nayti a liar because he called his cousins his brothers, thereby demonstrating his own ignorance of whanaungatanga in Maori tikanga.

There may also be mistaken conclusions arising from misunderstanding of relationships, for instance whether the woman in question is the chief's wife or a slave. The perceived treatment of her takes on entirely different meanings if the wrong assumption is made. There is also a risk in using fragmented pieces of information which may represent only part of the picture, such as the Pakeha perspective, or one chief's version.

The validity of second hand accounts in comparison with eyewitness reports can be questioned and the motives of writers also require examination. Missionaries reporting to their parent bodies were inclined to emphasise the success of their endeavours, as are New Zealand Company agents reporting to their superiors. Government agents such as Assistant Native Secretaries wrote glowingly of the wellbeing, good behaviour and loyalty of their charges. Some individuals, such as Frederick George Moore, tended to inflate their own part in various incidents and endeavours, and Maori giving evidence in the Maori Land Court were highly motivated to exaggerate their own tribe's role in order to gain rights to land.

A blatant example of writing for a particular purpose can be seen in a letter from James Mackay Jr to Donald McLean recounting a very dramatic confrontation between Maori and Europeans at Motupipi in 1856, which almost ended in serious violence. We were a little puzzled, as we had not seen any other reference to the incident, but on the next page Mackay sought a paid Government position to sort out disputes between Maori and Europeans. His account may be absolutely accurate, but there is a lingering suspicion that it may have been exaggerated.

Some more technical concerns arise from our use of typed or transcribed versions of original documents. We have been using, for example, the typed copy of Barnicoat's journal at Nelson Provincial Museum. We have come to know it well and have, over time, developed minor reservations about the accuracy of the typing. We have used a number of other typed or transcribed versions of original documents which may have similar flaws.

Very serious transcribing flaws can still emerge. For example, in 2003 a Crown witness presented a large typed transcript of the 1883 Maori Land Court investigation of the ownership of the Wakapuaka Block. This "evidence" was not only riven with spelling errors, but the conventions of the Court record were completely misunderstood. The names of cross-examiners (Maori) were often thoroughly confused with the names of the witnesses (also Maori) and names and contexts were also misunderstood. There was such objection to page 22the document's inaccuracies from ourselves and Maori at the hearing that it was expunged from the Tribunal record. Had we not been there, that transcription might have stood for all time as an accepted record of the 1883 Court.

Another aspect of sourcing materials which has concerned us is the ban on copying some items, usually because of fragility. We cannot understand why a single master photocopy of such documents could not be made, from which further copies could be produced. Such a strategy would reduce wear and tear on the originals. The cost of copying some archival records, for example when a professional has to be called in to make a digital copy, can be very high, and limits on the number of items which can be ordered at a time can be very frustrating.

The other paramount issue is, of course, our own integrity in selecting or rejecting material, in ordering material in a certain way, and in choosing or ignoring material to suit our own arguments and perspectives. We try to be neutral and even-handed, but it is probably up to the reader to decide on that issue. We have exercised some censorship by excluding some of the more vituperative attacks on individuals and, in some cases, whole communities. In many such instances it is obvious that the writings do not accurately describe people and events, but merely reflect the prejudices of the writers.