| Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| New Zealand Parliament | |
| |
| Royal assent | 24 September 1907 |
| Commenced | Immediate |
| Legislative history | |
| Introduced by | James Carroll |
| Passed | 1907 |
| Amended by | |
| None | |
| Related legislation | |
| Maori Councils Act 1900, Quackery Prevention Act 1908 | |
| Status: Repealed | |
The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 was an Act of the New Zealand Parliament aimed at replacing tohunga as traditional Māori healers with western medicine.
It was introduced by James Carroll who expressed impatience with what he considered regressive Maori attitudes.[1] Officials had been concerned for years about the sometimes dangerous practices of tohunga.[2][3][4] The Act was introduced in part to target Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist Rua Kenana,[5][6] but it was never used against him.[7]
It was praised by many influential Maori at the time, including Māui Pōmare and all four Maori MPs (Āpirana Ngata, Hōne Heke Ngāpua, Tame Parata and Henare Kaihau).[8][9] According to Willie Jackson, the prevailing concern raised by Ngata was the harm arising from improper medical practices, rather than the destruction of mātauranga Māori.[10]
- ^ "James Carroll". The Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ For example, see Archives New Zealand file ACGS 16211 J1 506/r 1893/1233, 'Hare Matenga, Hariru,Te Ahuahu Date: 9 August 1893 Subject: Regarding treatment of sick natives by Maori Tohunga'.
- ^ "The Maori superstition in the north" Tuapeka Times, 9 Aug 1893, p. 4.
- ^ "Tohungaism: the curse of the Maori race". Evening Post. 14 June 1904. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ Raeburn Lange et al, cited in "Pruned of its dangers: The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907", by Derek A Dow, Health and history vol 3 no. 1, Maori Health (2001) pp. 41-64
- ^ "House of Representatives". New Zealand Times. 20 July 1907. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Rongoā – medicinal use of plants", Te Ara
- ^ Graham Adams (21 September 2022). "Did Pakeha really crush traditional Maori medicine?". ThePlatform. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "The Tohunga". Evening Post. 20 July 1907. Retrieved 22 September 2022 – via Paprspast.
- ^ Matt Stewart (22 July 2017). "Flashback: Sir Apirana Ngata, inspirational champion of Maori cultural renaissance". Stuff. Retrieved 21 September 2022.