Dalmatians In New Zealand
Ryan Williams
Dalmations entered the New Zealand in waves of chain migration throughout the mid-19th century. The key reason for leaving their homes was that on arrival in New Zealand they would begin working as Kauri-Gum diggers.
The Dalmatians destructive methods of digging for Kauri-Gum would cause animosity towards them from British settlers and Māori who saw the Dalmatians as extracting resources from New Zealand and then leaving the country, taking with them the profits.
Both Settlers and Māori encouraged the Government to act, causing the New Zealand Government to limit non-British citizens access the Gum Fields. This had the desired effect of making the Dalmatians either leave the country or become British nationals
This state of affairs stayed steady until the outbreak of World War 1 where Dalmations faced internment as enemy aliens, whether or not they had become naturalized as a citizen.
Dalmations
Dalmatia is a region of Croatia which, in the 19th Century, was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Dalmatians would often be referred to as Austrians when in New Zealand due to the Austro-Hungarian Empires’ occupation of Croatia. It is not known why the first Dalmations came to New Zealand, but it is believed by many to be young men attempting to escape compulsory service in the Austrian Military.
Kauri-Gum
40,000 years ago, much of Northland was covered in large Kauri Forests. After the and of the ice age these forests died, and the Kauri trees sank underground taking their sap with them. This sap after 10s of thousands of years hardened into a substance called Kauri Gum.
Kauri-Gum was used by Māori as chewing gum due to its soft and chewy texture. Kauri-Gum found a commercial use in paint and varnish, causing an increase in demand and causing Dalmatians to come to New Zealand and make enough money digging Kauri-Gum to support their family back in Croatia.
This is a data visualization of the Kauri-Gum Industry report from 1898. In this report people working in the Kauri-Gum Industry were asked about the industry as a whole, the Dalmations (referred to as Austrians) and what the Government could do to help the industry.
The Dalmatians destructive methods of digging for Kauri-Gum would cause animosity towards them from British settlers and Māori who saw the Dalmatians as extracting resources from New Zealand and then leaving the country, taking with them the profits.
Both Settlers and Māori encouraged the Government to act, causing the New Zealand Government to limit non-British citizens access the Gum Fields. This had the desired effect of making the Dalmatians either leave the country or become British nationals
This state of affairs stayed steady until the outbreak of World War 1 where Dalmations faced internment as enemy aliens, whether or not they had become naturalized as a citizen.
Dalmations
Dalmatia is a region of Croatia which, in the 19th Century, was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Dalmatians would often be referred to as Austrians when in New Zealand due to the Austro-Hungarian Empires’ occupation of Croatia. It is not known why the first Dalmations came to New Zealand, but it is believed by many to be young men attempting to escape compulsory service in the Austrian Military.
Kauri-Gum
40,000 years ago, much of Northland was covered in large Kauri Forests. After the and of the ice age these forests died, and the Kauri trees sank underground taking their sap with them. This sap after 10s of thousands of years hardened into a substance called Kauri Gum.
Kauri-Gum was used by Māori as chewing gum due to its soft and chewy texture. Kauri-Gum found a commercial use in paint and varnish, causing an increase in demand and causing Dalmatians to come to New Zealand and make enough money digging Kauri-Gum to support their family back in Croatia.
This is a data visualization of the Kauri-Gum Industry report from 1898. In this report people working in the Kauri-Gum Industry were asked about the industry as a whole, the Dalmations (referred to as Austrians) and what the Government could do to help the industry.
This Data visualization shows that many people had negative views of Dalmatians, but even more had no opinion of Dalmatians at all and were only able to explain that the Dalmatians existed and that they were hard workers.
One of the most common grievances towards Dalmatians was how they would completely work an area out of Gum. This was different from the traditional settler method of Gum-Digging were only 1 or 2 feet of soil would be dug into, leaving much of the Kauri-Gum underground to be dug up later.
One of the most common grievances towards Dalmatians was how they would completely work an area out of Gum. This was different from the traditional settler method of Gum-Digging were only 1 or 2 feet of soil would be dug into, leaving much of the Kauri-Gum underground to be dug up later.
Many of those who expressed their grievances about Dalmatians also made it clear that they believed the Dalmatians were good, hard-working people who deserved the large amounts of money they were earning, but that they felt these profits should remain in New Zealand.
First World War
When the First World War broke out many New Zealanders began to fear that Germans and Austrians living in New Zealand may do to hinder the war effort. Many people who had not been in their home country for years were moved to internment camps such as Somes Island where they waited out the war.
Dalmatians were apart of this group. Even many of those who had lived in New Zealand for many years and had been naturalized as Citizens were interned as enemy aliens. The animosity towards Dalmatians at this time was caused by the assumption of New Zealanders that all those born in enemy nations would fully support their nation of birth in the war.
The New Zealand government launched a series of inquiries into claims of Dalmatians being enemy aliens where it was discovered the Dalmatians were more likely that most other groups to want to volunteer in the army as the war was against Austria, however many couldn’t as they were either not naturalized citizens or had already been interned as enemies.
First World War
When the First World War broke out many New Zealanders began to fear that Germans and Austrians living in New Zealand may do to hinder the war effort. Many people who had not been in their home country for years were moved to internment camps such as Somes Island where they waited out the war.
Dalmatians were apart of this group. Even many of those who had lived in New Zealand for many years and had been naturalized as Citizens were interned as enemy aliens. The animosity towards Dalmatians at this time was caused by the assumption of New Zealanders that all those born in enemy nations would fully support their nation of birth in the war.
The New Zealand government launched a series of inquiries into claims of Dalmatians being enemy aliens where it was discovered the Dalmatians were more likely that most other groups to want to volunteer in the army as the war was against Austria, however many couldn’t as they were either not naturalized citizens or had already been interned as enemies.