The Aotearoa History Show - Episode 7 | Votes, Depressions and Refrigerators

Summary

This episode of the Altera History Show, hosted by Lee Madam and William Wright, dives into New Zealand's tumultuous colonial governance, the transition from provincial to central government led by Julius Vogel, and the economic rollercoaster that followed. It highlights Vogel's infrastructure boom and the subsequent long depression, touching on the societal impacts and the contentious debate over his financial decisions. The narrative then explores the revolutionary shift in New Zealand's political landscape, from the establishment of Māori electorates to the landmark achievement of women's suffrage in 1893, and the emergence of New Zealand's first political parties, culminating in a discussion on labor movements and the transformative effect of refrigerated shipping on the economy. The script encapsulates New Zealand's journey through economic despair to prosperity, political strife to reform, and the relentless pursuit of a more inclusive society.

Takeaways

• 😊 Vogel used borrowed money to fund infrastructure projects like roads and railways, lifting NZ's economy but later contributing to a depression
• 😟 The Long Depression of the 1870s caused widespread poverty and unemployment in NZ
• 🏭 Refrigerated shipping, pioneered by William Davidson, enabled large-scale meat and dairy exports from NZ
• 👪 Kate Sheppard and the suffragists campaigned for decades to win voting rights for NZ women in 1893
• 🗳 Property and race-based restrictions on voting rights were gradually relaxed over the 1800s
• ⚖️ Compulsory arbitration courts were set up in 1894 to resolve disputes between workers and employers
• ❌ The Red Feds adopted aggressive tactics to bypass arbitration but lost public support after the Great Strike
• 🎌 Anti-Chinese laws passed in the late 1800s blocked immigrants and their NZ-born descendants from voting
• 🐘 The Liberal Party held power from 1891-1912, passing social reforms but also racist anti-Chinese laws
• 🗳🏛 The NZ Labor Party formed in 1916 to pursue workers' rights through participation in electoral politics

Q & A

What were the two main sides in the debate over how New Zealand should be governed in its early colonial history?

The two main sides were the provincialists, who thought each province should run itself, and the centralists, who thought there should be one big central government.

How did Julius Vogel help turn around New Zealand's economy in the 1860s?

As Treasurer, Vogel borrowed millions of pounds to fund large infrastructure projects like roads, railways and telegraph lines. This government spending created jobs and bolstered the economy.

What caused the Long Depression in the 1870s and how did it impact settlers?

An international banking crisis meant banks stopped lending money. Demand dropped and unemployment rose. Settlers faced grinding poverty and some even begged to leave NZ.

How did refrigerated shipping help revive NZ's economy in the 1880s?

William Davidson built an effective refrigerated ship to export meat and dairy. This allowed farmers to access lucrative overseas markets and created many new jobs.

Why were voting rights initially restricted to men who owned or rented property?

The justification was that property ownership gave voters a stake in NZ's future. It also prevented most Māori men voting, since Māori held land communally.

How did the women's suffrage movement convince politicians to grant women the vote?

Suffrage campaigners like Kate Shepherd gathered signatures from 32,000 women demanding the vote - almost 1/4 of the adult female population. Politicians were forced to listen.

What was the Liberal Party's relationship with labor unions in the 1890s?

Initially strong supporters, but unions grew angry as arbitration courts refused big wage rises. More radical unions like the 'Red Feds' emerged, alarming conservative NZers.

What lessons did the labour movement take from its defeat in the 1913 Great Strike?

That most Kiwis rejected radical tactics like mass strikes. Instead labour leaders focused on winning power democratically by forming the Labour Party.

Why did the colonial government restrict Chinese migration and voting rights?

Racist fears about growing Chinese presence. Rules blocked naturalization and voting rights for people of Chinese descent into the 1950s.

What was the big transformation taking place in NZ society alongside the political changes?

Huge numbers of European migrants were arriving, desperately wanting land. This set up conflict with Māori over land rights.