The indigenous people of New Zealand are the Maori people and are of polynesian origin. They constitute about 10% of New Zealands total population.

It is generally believed that the Maori arrived in New Zealand (Aotearoa) at the beginning of the second millennium. The legends talk about Kupe, a very skillful Polynesian navigator which sailed thousands of miles from his homeland (Hawaiki) in his long canoes. Kupe is given credit for naming New Zealand as Aotearoa (The Land of the Long White Cloud).

The Maori people named  themselves as Tangata Whenua (People of the land), and when the first europeans came along they called them Pakehas.

Later at around 1300 AD, more Maori settlers arrived and over the next 500 years, a certain social structure evolved. It consisted of tribes and sub-tribes which was ruled by a warlike aristocracy. Its supported priests, warrior and slave classes. This culture further developed into a society based on agriculture, hunting and sporadic warfare between tribes.

Today Maori society is still considered a tribal society with over 40 main tribes. In earlier times men usually held most of the power but in recent times women has gradually approached equality.

The centre of local tribal activity is the Marae, where the people of the tribe meet for several functions. The main meeting house (Wharenui) is the focal point of the place. Through the patterns, carvings and paintings one can see the customs, history and ancestors of whom they descend from.

There are several welcoming protocols used for ceremonial and more formal occasions. Visitors to the Marae may be signalled by the sounding of the putaatara (conch shell) and the manuhiri (visitors) will wait by the front gate until the karanga (call of welcome) bids them to enter. Also a wero (challenge) may be performed for guests of high rank. The purpose of it is to challenge the intent of their visit. And as the manuhiri enters the marae, a powhiri haka (welcoming dance and chant) may be performed followed by a whaikorero (welcome speech) and waiata (songs). Then the visitors respond with their reply, before filing past the welcoming party with whom the visitors hongi (rub noses) before entering the wharenui.

The Maori's has passed on their culture down the generations by their carvings and art, story telling, waiata and reciting whakapapa (genealogies). Carvings were and are done today in wood, bone and pounamu(jade or greenstone).

The Haka is also a well known part of Maori culture, especially the one performed by the All Blacks rugby team. 

Another aspect of the Maori culture is the moko (tattoo). In earlier days men were heavily tattooed from head to foot, while women were only tattooed on the chin. 

The moko showed the family history, personal achievements and also showing the good standing in the community of that person. It was a painful process to tattoo the moko which could extend over several days, using tools like bone chisels to insert dye into the skin.

The 20th century was a time of increasing urbanisation of the Maori population, with the challenges that followed such a step. 

But today there has been a renaissance in Maori culture, with focus on the Maori language in the schools, with Te Reo Maori and Kohanga Reo programmes in early education are ensuring the survival of the Maori culture and language, while Maori business, cultural, political,educational and sporting achievement has never been higher.

LEARN SOME MAORI WORDS AND PHRASES

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