Williams, M. M.
Culture Demography Housing Need Society
Bridget Williams Books, ,
2015
Williams offers an exploration of the urban migration experiences of Māori people, focusing on the historical and contemporary aspects of this significant demographic shift, with a focus on the people of Panguru.
Williams is the daughter of a Panguru family growing up in Auckland, she writes an account of urban migration through the stories of the Panguru migrants. In particular, the book is based on the oral testimony of 42 individuals representing at least 18 Panguru whānau, privileging voices of older migrants. The book details the patterns and impacts of Māori migration from rural areas to urban centres, particularly examining the period following World War II. It starts with an account of the satisfactions and challenges of rural life on small remote farms in the early 20th century, and of the social, political, economic and religious forces which drew members of this community into a larger world. However, this work this focuses on the nature and implications of people’s own, and very active agency, in this process and of the strategies which they employed to engage with the world beyond Panguru. The book blends personal narratives with broader historical contexts, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs faced by Māori individuals and communities as they navigated new urban environments. As Williams explains, migration was seldom viewed as a one-way journey of new beginnings for Panguru but rather it was experienced as a lifelong process of developing a ‘coexistent home-place’ for themselves and future generations. The book traces the migrants negotiations with people and places, from Auckland’s inner-city boarding houses, places of worship and dance halls to workplaces and Māori Affairs’ homes in the suburbs. This work provides analysis of the cultural, social, and economic implications of urban migration for Māori people. It highlights the resilience and adaptability of Māori communities, while also critically examining the policies and societal attitudes that shaped their urban experiences.
