Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction -- The position of women according to Tikanga Māori: Women in cosmogony (Te Kore, Te Pō, Te Ao Marama ; The creation of humankind ; Māui and his kuia) ; Tapu and Noa ; The role of women as whare tangata, the houses of humanity (The importance of whare tangata ; Giving birth) ; Female sexuality celebrated ; Women within the whānau ; Women as leaders and experts (Women as repositories of knowledge ; Women as spiritual leaders ; Women on the marae ; Women as political leaders) ; Summary -- Tikanga Māori colonised: The marginalisation of women in cosmogony (The rejection of Māori beliefs ; The colonisation of Māori beliefs ; Challenging the authenticity of colonised cosmogony) ; The distortion of Tapu and Noa ; The devaluation of the whare tangata (The importance of the whare tangata ; Giving birth) ; Female sexuality denigrated ; Women within the family ; Women leaders and experts rendered invisible (Women as repositories of knowledge ; Women as spiritual leaders ; Women on the marae ; Women as political leaders) ; Summary -- The consequences of colonisation for Māori women: Māori women and the Crown ; Māori women and Pākeha feminists ; Māori women and Māori men ; Māori women's perception of themselves -- Conclusion -- Images by Robyn Kahukiwa.

"The Balance Destroyed was first submitted as a Masters thesis in 1995; and published in 2003 by the International Research Institute for Maori and Indigenous Education as part of the Mana Wahine Monograph Series (#4031, not held by NZFVC). This revised edition includes a new preface and is complemented by the artwork of Robyn Kahukiwa." (From the publisher). Record #5896