Reclaiming the past to inform the future: Contemporary views of Maori sexuality

For hundreds of years, indigenous peoples have struggled to resist the imposition of Western, colonialist views of sexuality. Today, this tension continues as religious bodies attempt to impose a form of sexuality and sexual expression that derives from narrow fundamental interpretations of religious scripture. For the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, the struggle to resist this imposition has a long history, which continues today. This paper draws on historical accounts including oral histories, depictions of Maori sexuality that reside in art forms such as carvings and archival material in order to describe Maori sexuality as it was lived and experienced in pre-European times. More recent information from the Maori Sexuality Project is used to inform these historical records. Together, these historical and contemporary sources provide a view of Maori sexuality that contrasts strongly with the view espoused by some Christian churches. Our understanding of Maori sexuality indicates that Maori were traditionally accepting of sexual diversity and difference and sought to embrace these elements of sexuality rather than to exclude them. The implications of these findings for the sexual rights and health of indigenous peoples, as well as for the ongoing development of Maori communities, is discussed.