Tohunga Suppression Act
Encyclopedia
The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 was an Act of the New Zealand Parliament aimed to replace tohunga
as traditional Māori healers with "modern" medicine.
It was introduced by James Carroll
, with Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist Rua Kenana a specific target, but was never used against him and was repealed in 1962.
The third section enabled the Governor of New Zealand to gazette regulations to enable the intention of the Act to be carried out. The fourth section repealed subsection 5 of section 16 of the Maori Councils Act, which allowed Maori Councils to license tohunga.
", also argued that the traditional practices in curing smallpox (and other introduced diseases) being ineffectual and sometimes dangerous. This led to claims that some Tohunga as being "bogus, ...exploiting their fellow Māori". Carroll had "impatience with what he considered regressive Māori attitudes".
. This included health matters. Many Tohunga declined to pass on their oral traditions leaving Māori bereft of much of their traditional base. Whatever the overt intentions, there was a paradigm of the time amongst English colonists that Māori were a "lost race", the effect of banning the practices of spiritual and cultural leaders was that it hastened the assimilation of Māori.
The Act was repealed in 1962.
Tohunga
In the culture of the Māori of New Zealand, a tohunga is an expert practitioner of any skill or art, religious or otherwise. Tohunga may include expert priests, healers, navigators, carvers, builders, teachers and advisors. The equivalent term in Hawaiian culture is kahuna...
as traditional Māori healers with "modern" medicine.
It was introduced by James Carroll
James Carroll (New Zealand politician)
Sir James Carroll, KCMG , known to Māori as Timi Kara, was a New Zealand politician of Irish and Ngati Kahungunu descent. Beginning his career as an interpreter and land agent, Carroll was elected to the Eastern Maori seat in 1887. He was Colonial Secretary from 1895...
, with Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist Rua Kenana a specific target, but was never used against him and was repealed in 1962.
The Act
The Act contained only four clauses, the first of which simply gave the short title. The second clause stated that "Every person who gathers Maoris around him by practising on their superstition or credulity, or who misleads or attempts to mislead any Maori by professing or pretending to possess supernatural powers in the treatment or cure of any disease, or in the foretelling of future events, or otherwise" was liable for prosecution. The first offence could be subject to a fine of up to 25 pounds or up to six months imprisonment. Subsequent offences could lead to a prison term of up to a year. However, no prosecution under the Act could be commenced without the consent of the Minister of Native Affairs.The third section enabled the Governor of New Zealand to gazette regulations to enable the intention of the Act to be carried out. The fourth section repealed subsection 5 of section 16 of the Maori Councils Act, which allowed Maori Councils to license tohunga.
Background
Parliament debated the Act with the argument "directed primarily at Rua KenanaRua Kenana Hepetipa
Rua Tapunui Kenana was a Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist.-Background:Rua Tapunui Kenana Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist....
", also argued that the traditional practices in curing smallpox (and other introduced diseases) being ineffectual and sometimes dangerous. This led to claims that some Tohunga as being "bogus, ...exploiting their fellow Māori". Carroll had "impatience with what he considered regressive Māori attitudes".
Effects
Tohunga were the holders of knowledge of most rites, and knowledge in general in wānangaWananga
In the education system of New Zealand, a wānanga is a publicly-owned tertiary institution that provides education in a Māori cultural context. Section 162 of the Education Act 1989 specifies that wānanga resemble mainstream universities in many ways...
. This included health matters. Many Tohunga declined to pass on their oral traditions leaving Māori bereft of much of their traditional base. Whatever the overt intentions, there was a paradigm of the time amongst English colonists that Māori were a "lost race", the effect of banning the practices of spiritual and cultural leaders was that it hastened the assimilation of Māori.
The Act was repealed in 1962.
External links
- Dictionary of New Zealand Bio - Rua Kenana Hepetipa
- James Carroll
- A Return to the Tohunga Suppression Act 1907, "...a fresh analysis..."