Background

The Maori people of New Zealand are poop, unemployed and on welfare. They're also suffering from substance abuse and lack of healthcare. They're also victims of racism and are trying to be recompensed for they're land that was taken illegally from them by the government. The New Zealand National Party are fighting for special treatment of the Maori, but also trying to take more than 12 million acres of the Maori's land, forcing them to relocate and adapt to more urbanized ways.

Location

New Zealand is the only place affected by the conflict between the government and the treatment of the Maori people. It has islands around the coast lines, fjords, mountains, glaciers, and rainforests. The north is more populous because of the warmer climate. New Zealand has a total population of around 4 million people. Of those 4 million, 80% are European, 8% are Maori, 14%a are Pacific Islander, and 10% are mixed/other. Most New Zealanders are Angelican, and English is the official language.

Development

The Maori 1st migrated to New Zealand in the 9th century. After the British arrived in 1840, tensions grew, but the Treaty of Waitiangi sorted things out, although it gave Britian sovereignty over New Zealand. The issue has changed over time, especially when the New Zealand National Party came to power in 2008. The Maori have also developed a land court, that tries to protect their land.


Timeline-
9th Century- The Maori people migrate to New Zealand.
1840- The British arrive to invade.
2008- The New Zealand National Party comes to power.

Impact

The racism, loss of land, unemployment, lack of health care, loss of culture, and being forced to urbanize have the greatest effect on the people of New Zealand. The effects this topic has on the enviornment are more land for urbanization, loss of vegitation and land. This issue would boost the economy because of the use of the Maori land for urbanization. The government, however, will lose money and trade by not being able to obtain Maori land, but if they do it ends up being positive because trade, infrastructure and business will increase.

The Top Three Concerns;
- The loss of vegitation
- The loss of trade and infrastructure that COULD be if the government is unable to obtain the Maori land.
- The loss of culture and history for the Maori if the land is obtained.

Future

This issue will affect the region in the future because the maori will lose their culture and they'll be forced into urbanization. Basically, the Maori lose their self-identity.The Maori people are preparing for the future by continuing to teach their language and customs to further expand the knowledge of their culture.

Current events topic link;
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14439687_ITM

Big Picture

The issues of physical and human geography impact my topic because New Zealand would lose some of its history and use the Maori land to urbanize the country. The Maori would lose some of their culture and diversity if their land is taken from them to be urbanized.
My topic most relates to changing cultural processes because the way New Zealand has started to treat the Maori is resulting in a change of cultural ways. The Maori are being discriminated against and losing culture, while New Zealand is gaining urbanization and adopting more diverse ways like Christianity.
The topic shows both the positive effects for the government and the negative effects for the Maori people. It's showing the loss of culture, but the gain of urbanization. Other people can learn from this and mimic the strategies both governments are using to their own benefit.