The Mau Movement in Samoa began a campaign of non-violent non-cooperation in response to New Zealand deporting its leaders, including boycotting European stores. They also withdrew from government schools and cancelled women's meetings. New Zealand responded with police crackdowns, arresting over 400 Mau members. Despite some releases, opposition continued in both Samoa and New Zealand. Nelson traveled to the League of Nations seeking self-rule while the New Zealand Samoan Defence League advocated in Auckland. The Mau Movement faced heavy pressure from New Zealand's administration.

1. 21
THE SAMOAN
MAU MOVEMENT
NON-COOPERATION AND
DEFIANCE. NZ’S REACTION

2. NON CO-OPERATION AND DEFIANCE
•In response to the deportation of its key leaders, the Mau Movement
began a systematic campaign of opposition and defiance against the
New Zealand administration.
•The most important was the campaign of non-violent non-cooperation.
•An example was the boycotting of European stores in Apia, by
enforcing a Sa (ban). This was done to prohibit customs revenues from
being generated for the New Zealand administration.

3. New Zealand police in Samoa during the Mau movement, 1930.

4. OTHER FORMS OF PROTEST
•Children were withdrawn from government schools.
•Women’s welfare committees and district councils cancelled all
meetings.
•Coconuts were left to rot on copra plantations.

5. Fale o Leoleo, Police station, Apia, c 1930.
A Lewis machine gun mounted on the balcony
of this building fired over the heads of marchers on
'Black Saturday' in December 1929.

6. NEW ZEALAND’S REACTION
•Richardson’s administration responded to the Mau’s opposition by a
show of strength.
•HMS Dunedin and HMS Diomede arrived in Apia in February 1928 at
the request of Richardson.
•New Zealand Navy marines supported local police constables in
enforcing laws that prohibited Mau activities.
•Up to 400 Mau were arrested and jailed.

7. A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATORS
•The Samoan prisons were unable to cope and many were released
under an “act of clemency”.
•In April 1928, Richardson left Samoa and was replaced by Stephen
Shepherd Allen (1928-1931).
•Allen believed that he can eradicate (finish/end) the Mau
Movement through heavy-handed police action.
•In November 1928, Lealofi III was arrested for failing to pay his
taxes and was deported to Mt. Eden Prison in Auckland.

8. NELSON TRAVELLED TO THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
•Opposition against the New Zealand administration also occurred in
New Zealand where deported Mau leaders received support.
•Nelson travelled to Geneva (Switzerland), in mid-1929 to petition the
League of Nations Permanent Mandates Commission for Samoan self-
rule.
•He published two pamphlets: “The Truth about Samoa” and “Samoa at
Geneva: misleading the League of Nations”.

9. THE NEW ZEALAND SAMOAN DEFENCE LEAGUE
•The New Zealand Samoan Defence League was established in Auckland in
February 1929.
•The held regular meetings and petitions circulated.
•Nelson began petitioning the New Zealand government and received support
from the Maori leader Sir Maui Pomare and the opposition Labour Party.
•One strong supporter of the Mau Movement was Harry Holland, the leader
of Labour Party.

10. MAU VERSUS MANDATE CARTOON, 1930
• 'Samoa! Mandate pants or banned badge - which?', New Zealand
Observer, 28 March 1930.
• The Administrator of New Zealand's mandate over Western Samoa,
Stephen Shepherd Allen, is demanding that a Samoan changes his
lavalava (or native dress), which is labelled 'Samoan customs –
Mau', for black trousers labelled 'mandate rule'.
• New Zealand's administration of the mandate had been under
severe challenge from the Mau nationalist movement. A cruiser
arrived from New Zealand early in 1930 to help suppress the Mau,
and the administration threatened to use hundreds of non-Mau
Samoans to reinforce the sailors in hunting them down.
• The Mau came out of hiding in late March 1930 and agreed to
disperse, around the time that this cartoon was published.