Colonisation and crime

Just a brief comment.

There are many reasons put up for why Maori make up half of the prison population in 2012. Some say it has to do with colonisation. Yet when colonisation was a nearer event historically, Maori were not  disproportionately represented in prison. I suppose the counter argument would go, the impacts of colonisation are compounding.

From the 1929 Official NZ Yearbook:

The following table shows the sexes and ages of distinct prisoners received into prison under sentence during the year 1927, and distinguishes between Maoris and others:—

AGES AND SEXES OK DISTINCT PRISONERS RECEIVED INTO PRISON UNDER SENTENCE DURING 1927.
Age, in Years.	Excluding Maoris.			Maoris.			Including Maoris.
	Males.	Females.	Total.	Males.	Females.	Total.	Males.	Females.	Total.
Under 20	178	21	199	25	1	26	203	22	225
20 and under 25	302	10	312	49	..	49	351	10	361
25 “ 30 “	344	12	356	24	2	26	368	14	382
30 “ 35 “	316	14	330	14	..	14	330	14	344
35 “ 40 “	311	22	333	8	..	8	319	22	341
40 “ 45 “	272	20	292	3	..	3	275	20	295
45 “ 50 “	266	14	280	6	..	6	272	14	286
50 “ 55 “	189	8	197	5	2	7	194	10	204
55 “ 60 “	146	4	150	1	..	1	147	4	151
60 “ 65 “	59	1	60	..	..	..	59	1	60
65 “ 70 “	36	2	38	1	..	1	37	2	39
70 “ 75 “	11	1	12	..	..	..	11	1	12
75 “ 80 “	6	..	6	..	..	..	6	..	6
80 and over	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
Not stated	3	..	3	2	..	2	5	..	5
Totals	2,439	129	2,568	138	5	143	2,577	134	2,711

Maori made up 5.3 percent of the prison population and just under 5 percent of the total population. (Yes, many more Maori lived rurally and may have never come to the attention of European authorities.)

To view table in its entirety go here.