The Rise and Fall of Circumcision in New Zealand.
"I always hated doing them, and I was glad to give it up."
New Zealand is unique in the world for adopting infant circumcision almost
universally, and then abandoning it.
(A presentation to the Sixth International Symposium on Genital Integrity,
Sydney, December 8, 2000,
by H. Y. and Ken McGrath.)
by H. Y. and Ken McGrath.)
Its first human inhabitants, arriving more than 650 years ago, were Polynesians
from the north-east, from Tahiti or the Cook Islands.
At least one of those ancestors was reportedly superincised, because it's in his name, which is in turn embedded in our famous long placename.
At least one of those ancestors was reportedly superincised, because it's in his name, which is in turn embedded in our famous long placename.
"Circumcision, or rather
superincision, by the method of cutting through the upper surface of the
foreskin in the middle line so as to expose the glans penis was performed
throughout Polynesia.
Both the operatiion and the result were termed tehe."
Both the operatiion and the result were termed tehe."
European settlers began arriving about 200 years ago, and outnumbered the
Maori by some time in the second half of the 19th century.
Very few of those Pakeha (white) immigrants would have been circumcised. One doctor who began circumcising in 1916 says it was very rare before the First World War.
Very few of those Pakeha (white) immigrants would have been circumcised. One doctor who began circumcising in 1916 says it was very rare before the First World War.
In 1906, a morals campaigner, R.H.W. Bligh, wrote to the Secretary of
Education urging circumcision for boys in state care who masturbated. It was
already standard practice.
"It is extraordinary that in our day this rather barbaric rite should be practised almost as a
routine with infants.
From the psychological point of view it is dangerous with or without an anaesthetic.
In the rare case
where a child cannot urinate it may be done, but is otherwise unjustifiable.
Apparently the practice is based on a morbid fear of masturbation, and it is
unconsciously propitiatory.
When performed at the age of two or three, it is
frequently the basis of severe castration fears."
- "The Sources of Love and Fear" ~ M. Bevan-Brown.
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