A Taste of Maori Culture
The Maoris are the natives of New Zealand who came from Polynesia by canoe in the 13th century and lived near the coast and hunted seals and moas. Slowly they started growing food and moved towards the forest. As the Maori people stayed secluded from main New Zealand, they have their own unique culture, tradition and language.
But when the British settlers arrived in New Zealand in 1830, war broke out between the Maori people and the British settlers, so in order to avoid war, in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the Maori tribe and the colonial rulers. In 1975, the Treaty of Waitangi was introduced for the interests of the Maori's and to return the stolen lands.
Fascinating Myths and Legends of Maori Culture
There are many myths and legends related to Maori culture. Let's fascinate you with two of the popular myths of Maori people.
The formation of the North Islands and South Islands
Maui's (a Polynesian Demigod) giant fish came to be known as the North Island, and Maui's canoe was the South island.
The legend goes
Maui had four brothers; they planned to go out for fishing and leave Maui behind. Since Maui was clever, to his skill; he secretly prepared a fishhook from ancestral jawbone, and hid it in the canoe, under the floorboards. When they were out in the sea, he showed himself, and took out his magical fish hook, and threw it out in the sea, chanting powerful spells.
The fishhook caught a huge fish. Maui's brothers were getting ready to cut the fish, but Maui warned them and told them to wait till the God of the sea, Tangaroa, is pleased. His brothers waited for a long time, but soon they got tired and cut the fish into pieces for themselves. It is believed that these cut pieces are the mountains, valleys, lakes and the coastline of the North Island.
So, as acclaimed in the myths, passed down by the ancestors, the giant fish is believed to be the North Island and the canoe is believed to be the South Island. At the bottom is Stewart Island which is the anchor (which was responsible for pulling the giant fish), also popularly known as Te Punga a Maui (Maui's anchor).
The first female on earth, the first Maori Woman; Hineahuone
According to the legendary Maori history, it is believed that the earth was formed by the Maori Gods. In order to form the land and sky, Tane Mahuta (the God of forest and birds), separated his parents, sky and earth.
Tane and his brothers are believed to have formed the earth that humans live on today. After the earth was created, Tane convinced other Gods to create a woman to populate the earth. Thus the first Maori Woman, who came to be known as Hineahuone was brought to life.
Maori cultural festivals
Some of the famous Maori cultural festivals are Matariki, Te Ra o Waitangi, Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival, Kawhia Kai Festival, etc.
Maori cultural events like Matariki (Maori New Year) are celebrated around NZ. It includes making offerings, honoring ancestors, celebrating to farewell the dead, and lighting ritual fires and celebrating life. Nowadays, people all over Aotearoa gather together to pay respect to their ancestors, share their food, tell stories, play music and sing songs.
The festivals are celebrated to conserve and promote Maori culture, traditions, customs and language. It is through these celebrations that the Maori communities feel connected to their culture, and keep their identity intact. Also, Maori cultural events encourage cultural diversity and togetherness by educating the non-Maori New Zealanders about their rich Māori culture.
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Language of the Maori
The native language of the Maori people is Te Reo Maori, their myths and folklore of their ancestors were passed orally and in carvings on the walls of their houses. Since, there are no written records, they communicated through symbols like carvings, knots and weaving.
Dance of the Maori
The traditional dance of the Maori is war dance Haka which is performed when two parties meet or when a visitor is greeted or welcomed into the community. It comprises chanting, stomping, and giving facial expressions and body gestures. The dance movement in Haka focuses attention on the story that is told through chanting.
Distinguishable feature of the Maori
One of the important features that distinguishes Maori culture from others are the tattoos received on their faces. Men receive tattoos (called mataora) on their face while women receive tattoos (moko kauae) on their lips and chins.
Traditional meeting grounds of the Maori
The traditional meeting ground of the Maori are known as Marae, which includes the meeting area, cooking and dining space. The Marae is considered sacred, and outsiders entering the Marae will be welcomed in a traditional way before they are allowed to enter.
In the Marae cooking area, a traditional food called Hangi is cooked usually during the gathering.
Traditional Maori dish
Hangi is a traditional Maori dish, the food is cooked in a pit. The first step is to dig a pit, stones are heated and are buried in the pit, the wrapped food is placed on the heated stones, it is then covered with earth and slowly cooked. Hangi is not just a food but an important part of Hangi culture, with deeply rooted history and traditions.
The History of Hangi
Hangi originated from the Polynesian ancestors of Maori People. When Maori people came to New Zealand, they brought this traditional Hangi recipe with them. The process involved in cooking this traditional food has deep spiritual and ritual value.
Hangi over time has developed and adjusted with the local environment and according to the resources available in the region. In spite of the changes brought due to colonization and modernization, the traditional cooking method is still used.
How do Maori people greet each other?
The Maori men greet each other traditionally by Hongi, which includes pressing the nose of two people together and touching their forehead and is followed by a handshake. This traditional greeting is used during Maori ceremonies called Powhiri. On the other hand, the Maori women greet their friends and relatives by kissing on the cheeks.
Hospitality (referred to as Manaakitanga) of the Maori
The Maori people are welcoming and show their hospitality (referred to as Manaakitanga) to the guests, and sharing and welcoming is an important part of their culture. They make sure that they welcome their guests wholeheartedly and provide food and resting space.
Common phrases used in Maori language
- Kia ora tatou: Hello everyone
- Morena: Good morning
- Kei te pehea koe?: How's it going?
- Haere ra: Farewell, Goodbye
- Tena koutou: Greeting to you all
- Haere mai /Nau mai: Welcome
- Kia ora: Hello, Hi, Thank you, Cheers
- Ka kite: See you soon or see you again
- Tena koe: Greetings to you
- Hei konei ra: See you later
Other Places in the Cities where you can get information about the Maori people
In Queenstown, visitors can immerse in the culture and tradition of Maori by enjoying the traditional Haka performance, while opting for a gondola ride.
In Wellington, the Te Papa museum houses an important collection of art and craft of Maori people, representing the rich culture and history. The oldest Maori meeting house is located in Wellington. To know more about the Maori people, visitors can opt for the Maori Treasure Tour in the city.
In the South Islands, visit the largest Maori tribe and be a guest of the Ngai Tahu. Here tourists can enjoy exploring the village, the stunning scenic landscape and enjoy thrilling adventurous activities. Important places to visit include Wakatipu, Mount Cook, and Milford Sound. South Island is filled with natural wonders and is an important part of tourism of New Zealand, tourists must definitely visit to know more.
In Auckland, visit the Auckland museum, Maori court, and Natural History Gallery to see the artwork and carvings of the Maori. It will provide visitors with a wide knowledge about the culture and wealth of the region.
Beautiful Maori settlements to explore in New Zealand
Rotorua
Rotorua is a beautiful place in New Zealand filled with natural wonders, geothermal activities and the traditional Maori villages. It is the official cultural center of Maori, that includes the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.
A famous village to visit in Rotorua is Tamaki village, where you can experience living in a traditional styled village built in the forest.
One of the charming Maori villages to visit in Rotorua is Whakarewarewa village which has been home to the Maori native people for 200 years, they have been following their culture and tradition till date. Visitors can opt for a tour of the village, see the traditional performances, visit inside a Marae, and enjoy listening to the folklore and myths.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds is the location where a treaty between the British and the Maori took place in 1840. The location takes you to different sides of the land, one side belonging to the Maori world and the other of the British.
Tongariro National Park
One of the highlights of Tongariro National Park is that it is famous for three volcanoes Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro and the area is filled with glaciers, geysers, mineral-rich lakes, forests, snowfields and lava flows.
The Tongariro National Park is considered to be a sacred place for the Maori people, they believe they have a spiritual connection to this place. The Maori chief worked towards for the conservation and preservation of this park
Hokianga
An exciting place to visit is Waipoua forest, where visitors can enjoy guided walking tours to the oldest and largest Kauri trees. For those who want to have a spiritual experience and want to know about the mythology of the Maori tribe they should visit Spirits Bay and Cape Reinga.
Hokitika
Hokitika is famous for the discovery of greenstone and the Maori tradition of carving the greenstone. It is also popular for gold and jewelry galleries. Visitors hoping to take a souvenir back home, can carve your own greenstone.
Te Koru Pa
Te Koru Pa is an important archaeological place to visit as it comprises the ancient carvings by the Maori. You can explore the archaeological sites of the region like the terraces carvings on the walls and stone-riveting in order to prevent erosion and underground pits were made for storing food.
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is another enchanting place to visit, where the coast and the mountains meet. This region is famous for the whales and dolphins, which you can see all-year round. The Maori travelers considered the whales as their guides. Visitors can enjoy guided walking tours along the coast.
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