Good fellas. Glad they are having their day in the sun.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-32281865

Yes, it was stupid the way indigenous people were rejected as soldiers. While those in Australia had been too trusting of the British invaders, if anything, and comparatively peaceable, it was even crazier that the Kiwis didn't want Maoris fighting with them.

As with the Zulus and some tribes of Native Americans, the Maoris really took it up to them.

I gather the much down trodden aborigines took opportunity to sign-up for the good pay rather than any
strong righteous will to fighting on behalf their white oppressors ideals.
(An Aborigine with a chance to receive a white income must have looked rather enticing in those times.)

THats not to say they didn't make good soldiers.
and who knows what what kinds of nonsense the missionaries had helped pumped into the heads of aborigines over
the yrs, about- God,King,Queen,empire and country,... that may have also part influenced some decisions to sign up.
and maybe based on that kind of indoctrination, some may have signed-up in some attempt/hope at becoming more accepted by adopting the ruling orders values.

Unfortunately we still have a PrimE minister thats ignorant and obnoctious regards recognition of aborigines in general.
Hopefully mr.Turnbull will be successful next attempt, since he's by far a much more educated,worldly,sensible person.

I would imagine "understanding" Aborigines versus managing the nations expectations of how they should be treated could well be poles apart and I'm not so sure that our PM is too far wrong in the way he walks this delicate path - all things considered. Time will tell - rain check for around 2050 at current pace but does the general public have the stomach for faster change ? We are about to celebrate events that are already 100 years old. Have we really come far in that time ?