NEW ZEALAND MAORI CULTURE Early Polynesian Migration Approx

NEW ZEALAND MAORI CULTURE

Early Polynesian Migration • Approx. 3200 yrs ago people sailed from the Solomon Islands to the islands of Melanesia • Between 1200 -1000 BC they spread out to Fiji and West Polynesia • Last Pacific migrations to distant points of Polynesia, reaching NZ between 12501300 AD (dates uncertain)

Map of Polynesian Migration to New Zealand

Maori Creation Myth The Earth and skies came into being through the self generation of Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatuanuki, the Earth mother. Rangi & Papa prevented light from reading the world b/c of their close embrace. Because of this, their offspring lived in a world of darkness and ignorance between the bodies of their parents. So they plotted against them in order to let light into the world It is said that some of the sons decided their parents needed to be separated to solve the situation. Rangi was pushed up to become the sky, and Papa remained as their Earth. This resulted in the world of light and existence to come into being

Arrival of Europeans & the Treaty of Waitangi In the late 1830 s, growing numbers of British migrants were arriving in New Zealand Large transactions for Maori land were taking place, and at that time there was talk of the French wanting to annex NZ Annexing the country could protect Maori, regulate British subjects, and secure commercial interests The Treaty of Waitangi was soon prepared and signed on February 6, 1840 There are two versions of the Treaty, one in English and one in Maori; The Treaty states that a government would be built in NZ and that “Maori gave the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wished to sell, and, in return, they were guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions; and that Maori would have the rights and privileges of British subjects. ”

Treaty of Waitangi • The language differences caused for misunderstanding on the Maori side, and today it is common to refer to the intention of the Treaty, aside from just the written words • The Treaty was not fully implemented until the 1970 s

Renaissance of the 1970 s In 1975 there was a Maori Land March led by Whina Cooper, which made its way to the steps of Parliament in Wellington The aim of the people was to call for a halt to the alienation of Maori land, identity, and culture Maori later became an official language in New Zealand as a result

Maori Traditions Traditional Maori welcome: Powhiri which involves a hongi Striking tattoos; full-faced tattoos called “moko; ” women’s facial tattoos are restricted to the chin, upper lip, and nostrils Traditional form of cooking called Hangi, where the food is cooked in the earth; stones heated in a fire in a dug out pit and covered in cabbage leaves to keep food from burning Traditional war dance: Haka The Haka was performed before the onset of war by the Maori last century, but has been immortalized by New Zealand's Rugby Team the All Blacks, who perform this dance before every game. You Tube Video: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=cle 20 l. Qg 0 Qs&feature=r elated

Works Cited http: //www. teara. govt. nz/New. Zealanders/New. Z ealand. Peoples/The. New. Zealanders/12/ENZResources/Standard/1/en http: //www. nzhistory. net. nz/politics/treaty/thetreaty-in-brief http: //maaori. com/whakapapa/creation. htm http: //www. virtualoceania. net/newzealand/cultu re/maori/