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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 66

Maori Population

Maori Population.

The total number of Maoris was in 1878 estimated at 42,814, the greater number being in the North Island, only a few living in the South and its adjacent islands. In 1881 the census returns gave 44,097 as the total number.

The number of the principal tribes is twenty: of these, the Ngapuhi is the strongest; the Waikatos rank next in point of numbers; the Ngatikahungunu is third; then the Ngatiporou and the Arawas. Of the Maoris in the colony, 24,368 were stated to be males, and 19,729 to be females.

As much difference of opinion has existed as to whether the numerical decline of the Maori race has not been, at any rate in certain districts, arrested, it may be interesting to compare, so far as they are given, the ages of the Maoris with the ages of the settled and steadily increasing population of England. The numbers and sexes of some of the Maori tribes have been imperfectly given. It is therefore necessary to deal only with those tribes for which full information as to numbers, ages, and sexes is given. This was the case in respect of the numbers belonging to thirteen of the principal tribes, amounting in the whole to 31,645, according to an account taken in the year 1874. Of these, 6,079 were males under fifteen, and 5,225 were females under fifteen. The males over fifteen amounted to 1.1,209, and the females over fifteen to 9,132. There was a total excess of males over females of 2,931, or to every 100 males there were 83.05 females. In England, in 1871, the males under fifteen amounted to 37.15 per cent, of the whole male population; the Maori males, of the tribes given, in 1881, under the age of fifteen, amounted to 3378 per cent, of the whole male population of those tribes. The females of similar ages were, respectively, in England 3513 per cent, of the whole female population, and among the Maoris 34.15 per cent. If the numbers of the males and females page 70 under fifteen be respectively compared, the following result is shown :—

Proportions per Cent, to the whole Population.
Age. England. N.Z. European. Maoris.
Males under fifteen 18.09 21.61 18.43
Females under fifteen 18.03 21.24 15.35

To draw any conclusion from these figures, it would be necessary to have more exact information as to the numbers of the Maoris living at the various higher age-periods, but the information has only been given for the periods under and over fifteen.

The existence among some tribes of the Maoris of a higher proportion of females under fifteen (ultimately to become wives and mothers) to the total female population than obtains in England, the percentage under fifteen to the total females being respectively 40.03 in the Ngapuhi, 41.12 in the Arawa, and 46.15 in the Urewera, while it is only 35.13 per cent, in England), might at first sight lead to the belief that the decline in the numbers of the race had been arrested, and that even an increase might be expected. This is not the case, however, as there are causes in operation which increase the mortality of the adult Maoris without increasing the mortality of the children, so that the actual proportion of children to the whole population would be thereby much greater, and an appearance of productiveness shown which did not really exist.

Do such causes exist? Docs the fact of the partial adoption by the adult Maori of civilized habits and costume, and the continual reversion to the habits and costume of barbarism, with a system rendered more susceptible to external influences, especially those of a humid and changeable climate, tend to promote the spread of disease, notably of tubercular diseases, and consequent mortality? Does the spread of drinking habits tend to shorten the life of the adult Maori? These and other similar questions have an important bearing on the subject.

The examination of the numbers of some of the tribes points rather to the conclusion that some such causes of mortality among the adults do exist. In the return for a former year the Ngatikahungunu show 41.91 per cent, of the males and 41.21 per cent, of the females as being under fifteen years of age. The Arawa show 40.58 per cent, of the males and 48.30 per cent, of the females as being under fifteen.

It is hardly conceivable that the women of these tribes should have been so exceedingly prolific, and that, as in the case of the Arawa, nearly one-half of the female population should have been page 71 under fifteen, unless a large number of adult women had died before reaching middle age, thereby increasing the proportion of younger females by reducing the proportion of the adults.

It may be noticed in connection with this subject that in 1871 the Maoris were estimated at 37,502, and in 1867 at 38,540; while in 1874 they were estimated at 45,470, in 1878 at 42,819, and in 1881 at 44,097. The estimates formerly made were, however, from the then state of feeling iu the Maori population, necessarily much more imperfect and unreliable than those recently made.