Maori Ranidaphobia
February 23, 2022
By AHNZ
Ranidaphobia (fear of frogs) (by which I mean Frenchmen) is often claimed about Musket Wars era Maoris. It is also said to be a Push Factor in why many Maori tribes subscribed to the Treaty of Waitangi. But what’s the evidence for this oft repeated claim?
South Island Maoris were friends and partners of the French. After a long-standing association with French whalers the Maoris sold them Akaroa, indeed the whole of Banks Peninsula in 1838. This had to be signed off by Bloody Jack who was headquartered in Southland so this speaks for almost all South Island Maoris.
In the north, Bishop Pompallier’s Mission and Baron de Thierry & wife were established and welcome in their Hokianga home and French Catholicism began to spread. French warship Aube visited Hobson on the way to Akaroa and no Maori wet the bed over it so far as I know.
The du Fresne massacre was in 1772 and the retaliation past its used by date. Who was afraid of the Big Bad Frog in the 1830s? True, the ‘Akaroa Navy’ did bombard the Chatham Island settlements to ashes in 1839 but nobody ever mentions that.
So what’s backing the persistent claim of Maori paranoia toward the French? I’ve got some serious doubt about it.
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