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Pākehā is a term generally used to describe New Zealanders of Anglo/European extraction, but it can also be used to refer to any non-Māori person. The word first came into use soon after the arrival of European settlers to New Zealand in the late 18th century.
Origins of the wordThe exact origins of the word Pākehā are unknown, although the most likely sources are the words pākehakeha or pakepakehā, which refer to mythical human-like creatures, with fair skin and hair, sometimes described as having come from the sea.[4] When Europeans first arrived they rowed to shore on longboats. British sailors faced backwards while rowing the boats to shore. In traditional Maori canoes or "waka", paddlers face forward. This led to the belief that the sailors had eyes in the backs of their heads, contributing to the mythical view. Popular misconceptionsThere have been several dubious interpretations given to the word Pākehā, including:
Meaning
Common alternative designations for Pākehā in New Zealand include "New Zealand Europeans" or "European New Zealanders" and sometimes "Caucasian New Zealanders" or "White New Zealanders". The term 'white' can have offensive connotations and seldom occurs. Some early European settlers who lived among the Māori became known as Pākehā Māori. The word mostly applies more narrowly to just New Zealanders of European (primarily British and Irish) descent. Sometimes it applies more widely to include non-Māori other than those of European descent. A trend exists to apply the term only to New Zealand-born persons of predominantly European descent, but acceptance of this notion remains still far from universal. AcceptanceEuropean New Zealanders vary in their attitude toward the word "Pākehā" as applied to themselves. Some embrace it wholeheartedly as a sign of their New Zealandness, in contrast to the Europeaness of their forebears. Others object to the word (many object strongly), claiming it to be derogatory or to carry implications of being an outsider, some consider it similar to the word gaijin in Japan. Those who prefer to ignore ethnic distinctions refer to all New Zealand citizens only as New Zealanders. The meaning and use of the term is widely disputed. Historian Judith Binney calls herself a Pākehā and says, "I think it is the most simple and practical term. It is a name given to us by Māori. It has no pejorative associations like people think it does—it's a descriptive term. I think it's nice to have a name the people who live here gave you, because that's what I am". Cultural identityThere is a view that it is nonsense to talk of 'Pākehā Culture', given that it would be all the cultures of the world except Māori. Where Pākehā identity is identified, it is most commonly NZ Kitsch and symbols from marketing such as the Chesdale Cheese men, and might more appropriately be called "Kiwiana". Rugby football is a game enjoyed by many New Zealanders; to refer to it as Pākehā culture would be misleading given that it is a sport of English origin and is no less popular amongst New Zealanders with Māori heritage. As a young nation, New Zealand is struggling to assert an identity distinct from its British origins and other anglo-democracies such as Australia, Canada and Ireland. The wish to create an identity may lead some to give greater importance to minor local traditions than is merited. New Zealand's culture is an amalgam of cultures, British/European with some Māori/Polynesian influences and more recently wider cultural inputs, particularly from Chinese and other Far Eastern cultures. Michael King, a leading writer on Pākehā identity, discussed the concept in his books Being Pākehā (1985) and Being Pākehā Now (1999). See alsoReferences
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