From World War II (1939-1945), but especially from the 1950s, Māori moved from rural to urban areas in large numbers. Most believed that New Zealand had ideal race relations and, although relations were good compared to many other countries, the harmony existed mostly because the mostly urban and the mostly rural Māori rarely came into contact. Māori urbanisation brought the differences between the cultures and the economic gaps between Māori and into the open. In addition, many Māori had difficulty coping with modern urban society away from the stabilizing influence of their and . Some turned to alcohol or crime, and many felt lost and alone. Several new groups, most prominently the Māori Women's Welfare League (founded in 1951) and the New Zealand Māori Council (formed in 1962) emerged to help urban Māori and to provide a unified voice for Māori. These groups were conservative by later standards but did criticise the government on numerous occasions.