The Māori are the native Polynesian population of mainland New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa. Māori began with migrants from East Polynesia, who came to New Zealand through multiple canoe trips between around 1320 and 1350. During many years in seclusion, these migrants formed a unique culture with its own language, beliefs, skills, and artistic traditions that were different from other Polynesian societies in the region.

Māori have been the original inhabitants of Aotearoa for centuries, known as the tangata whenua. Having come from the Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki more than 1,000 years ago, the renowned voyager Kupe was the initial Māori to arrive at these territories.

Certain Māori people relocated to the Chatham Islands, resulting in the development of the Moriori ethnic group, who are also indigenous to New Zealand, alongside the Māori.

In the 18th century, interactions between Māori and Europeans varied from advantageous trade to deadly conflicts; they readily embraced numerous technologies introduced by the newcomers. The two cultures lived alongside each other for a generation after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Following the Treaty being legally declared void in 1877, Māori were compelled to integrate into various facets of Western society. Social disruption and outbreaks of newly introduced diseases had a significant impact on the Māori population, causing a sharp decline, but started to bounce back by the early 1900s.

Māori rank as the second-largest Ethnic population in New Zealand, following European New Zealanders, also known as Pākehā in the Māori language. Furthermore, over 170,000 Māori people reside in Australia. Around one-fifth of all Māori people speak the language to some degree, which is about three percent of the entire population. Maori have a presence in various aspects of New Zealand culture and society, including media, politics, and sports, where they have their own representation.

Their culture is an integral aspect of New Zealand culture and is present globally because of a significant diaspora and the integration of Māori themes into mainstream culture. Today’s Māori culture combines traditional and modern influences.

10 Interesting Parts Of The MAORI CULTURE

The Kauri Tree

The kauri tree from New Zealand is not your average tree. It is one of a few species that exist for thousands of years. In this category, it is even less common due to its large size and extremely slow growth, making it one of the slowest growing trees on Earth.

Tāne Mahuta, situated in Waipoua Forest, is the oldest and tallest tree in New Zealand and possibly the world. It took Tāne Mahuta 2,500–3,000 years to grow to a height of 51 metres, which is the same as Niagara Falls, with a growth rate of 10-20 centimetres per year.

It is easy to understand why Tāne Mahuta has a significant role in Māori culture.

Kupe’s Legacy

Manea Footprints of Kupe recounts the tale of Kupe, the Polynesian adventurer who found Aotearoa New Zealand a millennium in the past. This engaging opportunity showcases Kupe’s voyage from Polynesia using narration, artwork, immersive film, and treasured artifacts. The museum is located on the shores of Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, the place where Kupe set off on his journeys back to Polynesia. Upon entering the building, you are greeted by tour guides who are actually direct descendants of Kupe.

The Geothermal Waters of Ngawha Springs

The healing properties of the geothermal waters at Ngawha Springs in Te Tai Tokerau, Northland, are well-known. In the past, Māori women would often bathe in the waters following childbirth, while Māori warriors from different tribes would sometimes bathe together after fights. Ngawha Springs offers a selection of 24 pools, including both public and private options, each unique in temperature, color, and mineral composition. This allows you to select a pool depending on your needs – for instance, some pools are utilized for skin issues, while others are suggested for respiratory infections. All are ideal for unwinding in.

Century Old Mysteries

Waimangu Volcanic Valley holds the title of being the most recently formed geothermal landscape in the world. It developed rapidly within weeks, which is considered unusually quick in terms of geology, following the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption. The volcanic explosion formed a remarkable geothermal area, while also entombing the Pink and White Terraces (silica formations) beneath debris and volcanic material.

Today, the Pink and White Terraces, previously thought to be gone forever, are now the focus of a contemporary search for treasure. Some believe they are located there, but others claim they may be seen below Lake Rotomahana’s surface with the right knowledge.

Wai Ariki Springs And Spa For Wellness

Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa offers a blend of luxury spa treatments and traditional Māori healing practices. In line with Māori beliefs, these spa treatments focus on revitalizing both the body and mind at the same time. Experiences include mineral and herbal baths, geothermal mud treatments, and a frigidarium for cold water bathing. While Wai Ariki offers the epitome of luxury spa experiences, it also contributes to a worthy cause. Profits from the iwi-owned and operated resort go towards funding local community and environmental initiatives.

Maori Delicacies

To experience the best dining and cultural activities, make sure to visit Te Pā Tū. Situated within a recreated Māori Pā (settlement), visitors are offered a night of traditional Māori food, starting with kai horotai (native appetizers) – such as crunchy pork and sweet apple wrapped in kawakawa leaves, pāua (abalone), and pickled pikopiko (fern frond). The initial dish is succeeded by hāngi, a type of food that has been slowly cooked in the ground, as well as fusion recipes created by leading Māori cooks.

Kapa haka (Māori performance) is performed during dinner, featuring dance, song, and haka, a traditional ceremonial dance or challenge.

Kapiti Island For The Birds And Visitors

When departing Kāpiti Island, you will immediately feel the strong desire to turn back and return. The little island, situated near the Kāpiti Coast, serves as a sanctuary for native birds with no predators. These birds are so common that there is always a steady flow of them around you, both on the ground and in the air. To identify birds, join a guided tour with Kāpiti Island Nature Tours. Māori guides, from families who have resided on the island for generations, will educate you on distinguishing between a tui and a bellbird; identify the kererū – a bird seemingly not built for flight; and aid in spotting weka and kākā – known for snatching lunches.

The Whale Watching Tour

Located near Kaikōura is the Kaikōura Canyon, a deep gorge brimming with marine creatures like Sperm Whales, drawn to the abundant food sources.

The top choice for observing these incredible whales is to join a tour with Whale Watch Kaikōura. Tours boast a 95% success rate, with knowledgeable staff guiding you to capture the perfect shot of a whale’s tail above the water as it emerges from the ocean floor.

Generational Vocation- Tour Guide

Embark on a spiritual journey on traditional waka with Owhango Adventures and explore the Ruapehu district’s heart, delving deep into the past. The Whanganui iwi will warmly embrace you on a guided tour lasting three, four, or five days through a pristine area of Aotearoa, highlighting their reverence for the awa (river), ancient traditions, and the customs of ‘the river people’. The stunning Whanganui River has been recognized as a legal entity and safeguarded by its community. Discover traditional songs while canoeing through the river, navigating gentle rapids and visiting culturally significant landmarks. Experience the traditional tales of the past and stay overnight at the distant Tieke marae belonging to the iwi. A once in a lifetime experience.

Furthermore, this business, which is owned by the Māori, has been passed down through generations within the family, giving them extensive knowledge about whales. The guides have the ability to distinguish each whale visually, which aids scientists in tracking whale populations using the company’s sightings data.

Historical Significance Through Delicacies

The top way to explore Ōtautahi Christchurch is through an Āmiki Cultural Food Tour. You will explore the city with a Māori historian who will show you how the city’s buildings and architecture represent its history and culture.

The Āmiki guides are great at storytelling because Āmiki translates to storytelling in Māori. Furthermore, every tour is unique, customized to the preferences of the guests. As a result, there are no rehearsed presentations from established scripts, just dynamic tours that evolve continuously.

During the journey, you will try kai (Māori food) and by the conclusion of the tour, you will be equally satisfied in body and mind.

The Parliament Scuffle

The Treaty of Waitangi, known as Te Tiriti o Waitangi or Te Tiriti, was signed on February 6, 1840, by approximately 500 Maori chiefs and the British Crown. The treaty laid the foundation for New Zealand and formally established it as a British colony.

Although the treaty was portrayed as a way to settle disputes between the Maori and the British, there are significant discrepancies between the English and te reo versions of the treaty.

The Maori chiefs are assured “rangatiratanga” in the te reo Maori rendition. This means “self-governance” and ensures that the Maori have the right to govern themselves.

What is suggested by the the new bill- Treaty Principles Bill?

Member of Parliament David Seymour from the ACT Party, a minor party in New Zealand’s coalition government, introduced the Treaty Principles Bill. Seymour is of Maori descent. The party initiated a public awareness initiative regarding the bill on February 7 of this year.

The ACT Party claims that a misunderstanding of the treaty has resulted in the creation of separate political and legal rights for Maori and white New Zealanders. Seymour claims that misunderstandings regarding the treaty have essentially resulted in Maori people receiving special privileges.

The bill requests the cessation of categorization based on race. He stated that the majority of Maori perceive the ACT Party as concealing its racism by pretending to believe in equal rights for all New Zealanders.

Another document from the tribunal, as reported, stated that if this legislation were to be passed, it would mark the most significant violation of the Treaty in recent history.

Thousands of individuals gathered at the parliament in Wellington, New Zealand to oppose a bill that is viewed by critics as undermining the nation’s fundamental values and impacting the rights of the Māori community.

The march for the Treaty, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, started nine days ago in the far north of New Zealand and went all the way through the North Island in one of the largest protests in the country in recent years.

The classic peaceful Māori walk, known as hīkoi, ended outside parliament on Tuesday, with protesters urging lawmakers to oppose the contentious Treaty Principles Bill aimed at reinterpreting the 184-year-old treaty between British settlers and numerous Māori tribes.