The Maoris

The Maori culture

Origins...

The Maori ancestors were Polynesian people originating from south-east Asia. It is supposed that the Polynesian arrived New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages at some time between 1250 and 1300. Maori oral history describes that they arrived to New Zealand through a group of canoes, usually known as "The Great Fleet" from Hawaiki (the mythical homeland in tropical Polynesia).

The first Europeans known to reach New Zealand were the crew of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. More than 100 years after Tasman, British naval captain James Cook arrived to New Zealand, and he gave the actual name to the islands.

Encounter with the Europeans

To most people, the haka is a war dance. This is understandable as many have seen the haka performed as a pre-battle challenge to their opposition, but the word "haka" simply means a dance, or a song accompanied by dance.

Haka

They are very accepted in New Zealand. They participate in political, economic and social institutions. One example of this is that the Governor General (he represents the Queen in NZ) has Maori origins.

Maoris today