The meaning of Pakeha appears to have changed over time. Prior to 1815 it meant "white person" who came from England to settle in New Zealand. Then was applied to any fair skinned person born in New Zealand. Later it was applied to all fair skinned people in New Zealand.
However Dr Michael King in 1985 defined Pakeha as any "non-Maori" person.
More recently Ross Himona says linguistically Pakeha means a New Zealander of non-Maori or non-Polynesian decent.
This to me make sense. I am happy to be called a Pakeha. It defines who I am. A non-Maori ihabitant of New Zealand.
So what have I learned? As we are all boat people i.e. we inhabitated New Zealand from another land, the Maori were the first to settle and the Pakeha the second to arrive, mainly from Great Brittan. We are a country that has relative harmony between the cultures, that live together to create what we have today. Everyone has contributed to New Zealands very existance.
I give thanks to Jodi Ranford who explored this topic and has written a wonderful artical titled Pakeha, Its origin and meaning. It can be read at http://maorinews.com/writings/papers/other/pakeha.htm
It is well worth a read.
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