Boundaries and Belonging: Relationships between Māori and Settlers in the King Country after the Lifting of the Aukati (1883-1914).
The New Zealand wars of the nineteenth century have had a significant place in historical research for almost as long as New Zealand history has been recorded. However, less attention has been paid to the social repercussion of the wars, and intercultural relationships in the post-conflict settler milieu. I am embarking on a research project for a PhD in History at Otago University. My project will investigate the aftermath of the Waikato War, with a focus on the King Country region. I will record some of my reflections on this blog site and will welcome feedback. My research will consider the period from the early 1880s until 1914 and examine how the relationships between Māori and settlers, were negotiated, formed, and managed within the King Country. Once the aukati boundary had been lifted and settlers began to move into the King Country how were the boundaries pertaining to cultural, national and personal identity experienced? What factors came into play from the key parties ...