Celebrate the Maori Culture

The traditional greeting of the Maori people

I borrowed heavily from online resources to present this brief capsule about the Maori people of New Zealand. It’s a good story to read about a quality nation respecting all of the ancestry of all of the people. Hope you enjoy.

The Pacific was the first ocean to be explored and settled. New Zealand, isolated far to the south, was the last substantial land mass to be reached. 

Outrigger Canoes of Maori descendents

It was 25,000 to 50,000 years ago when explorers first set out from Southeast-Asia on simple rafts relying on the currents (drift) to reach new destinations. These people were largely foragers and the destinations (Polynesia) they reached were settled. Thousands of years later, canoes were used to extend their reach as both their ocean vessels and navigational skills improved. Finally, outrigger canoes, some with sails, were used to reach ever further into the unknown using stars, wave patterns and ocean currents as navigational guides. These were highly skilled navigators and just as their navigational skills evolved, so did the societies they represented. Where the original explorers were foragers, you now had farmers, hunters and gatherers and more complex societal structures. Trading relationships were established in both directions and communication with the motherland was maintained using these routes. 

New Zealand was believed first settled around 1200 AD by the descendants of the Maori people. Beginning in far eastern Polynesia subtropical weather systems were the primary method of navigation to New Zealand. Today the Maori people still consider East Polynesia as their homeland, which they call Hawaiki. Hawaiki is best described as the Society Islands, the southern Cook Islands and the Austral Islands in French Polynesia.  

It has been debated just why these early settlers first sought New Zealand though it seems likely that the purpose was the advancement of their beliefs, access to greater resources, and the assured and continued existence of their people.  Of course, time-tested greed and power also played a role in settlement where a discoverer could become a “king of nations” newly discovered. There is clear evidence that the exploration was purposeful  — the existence of animals and plants suggests that early voyagers had the intent of settling news lands using the tools they would need for settlement and the establishment of trade. Ship rats accompanied most of these voyages (uninvited) and those rats have settled on New Zealand as they have throughout the world. In this case, scientists have used DNA evidence to establish the descendants of the Maori people came from more than one location, all in Eastern Polynesia.

Upon arrival they were confronted with tremendous natural resources and abundant wildlife. There were Moa species and other (now extinct) native birds including a swan, a goose, and Haast’s eagle (the world’s largest), probably a predator of the Moa. Sea mammals, particularly seals, were plentiful on the coast, as were fish and shellfish.

Ancient Moa

Voyagers introduced the dog and the rat; they also brought with them taro, yam, paper mulberry and the Pacific cabbage tree. The kūmara (sweet potato) and gourd came from South America via East Polynesia. It was too cold for plants such as coconut, breadfruit and banana. The introduction of dogs and rats, and later pigs and possums, has had a tragic effect on indigenous species. Many are now extinct, though some continue to survive, particularly on remote islands near New Zealand without the presence of dogs, rats, possums and pigs — or people!

Te Papa Tongarewa Museum

Modern day New Zealand embraces the rich history, customs and beliefs  of the Maori people. The Maori culture continues to thrive today and is more than just recognised — it is part of the way of life as valid as any western influences. The museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, is one of the top 25 museums in the world. It provides a great historical record of the Maori people while also educating visitors on the rich traditions and beliefs alive today. It is a daily experience to hear the native language spoken, even interspersed with English, in a modern business setting. I don’t mean to hold this out as extraordinary, because clearly, this is the way it should be in all blended societies.  That New Zealand has done what is right — well, it’s a shame we have to celebrate something that is appropriate.

Marae - a Maori meeting place

Julie recently attended a business function held at a Maori “Marae” — a sort of meeting place. There she was taught and experienced first-hand customs of the people; received the traditional Maori greeting; and learned about Maori societal norms.  Very cool indeed. 

New Zealand Prime Minister meets the Queen wearing a Maori Robe