The Maoris are the indigenous people of New Zealand.

They make up about fifteen percent of

the countrys population. Originally, they came to New Zealand from Polynesia in canoes at
some time between 1250 and 1300 CE. Over time, they has developed a unique culture with their
own language, along with a mythology, crafts and performing arts.
The Maori culture is rich with folk songs, art, dance, and spiritual beliefs. It also forms part of
New Zealands culture. The Maoris worship their gods. The gods symbolize the sky, the Earth,
the forests, and also other forces of nature, et cetera. They believe that their ancestors spirits
could be called help them in time of war or when necessary. Te Reo Maori is their native
language. It is partly related to Tahitian and Hawaiian. Before the white men came to New
Zealand, all literature in the culture was passed on to other generations orally in stories or songs.
Some of the stories were also carved in homes. One of the most popular tradition of the Maoris is
the Haka, or war dance. It is a ritual to perform this dance before every time they go to war.
Nowadays, the New Zealands Rugby Team continue to perform this dance at every game they
play to immortalize it.
A Maori welcome is called a powhiri. While in the world, people would consider a kiss a
friendly greeting, the Maoris press their noses together to show their friendliness. Another
custom in the tribe is to have tattoos on your face. A full-faced tattoo is a symbol of masculinity
and is only for male. Tattoos for female are limited to the chin area, the upper lip, and the
nostrils. Although tattooing is an old tradition, today a large number of Maoris still choose to
have tattoos on their faces as an effort to preserve their signature identity and culture.
Adornments like ear pendants and carved combs, et cetera are worn as sign of prestige. These are
mostly made from jade, whale bone and whale ivory. Other materials are also used.
The Maoris have a very special form of cooking. A hangi is a feast that is cooked inside the
earth. First, they dig out a pit. Then, they start a fire inside it and put stones on top. They are
usually covered with cabbage leaves or watercress to prevent the heat from burning the food.
Prepared pork, chicken, potatoes, et cetera are put into a basket. They would lower the basket
into the pit to cook the food. Finally, earth is placed on top to keep the heat and steam inside.
Normally, it takes about three hours to cook a meal. The hangi is still popular now in New
Zealand. It serves as a form of tourist attraction. The taste of food cooked in a hangi is
described by some as steamed food with an earthen flavor.
Maori creative arts, such as weaving and carving, celebrate the past yet continue to evolve
throughout history with new inspirations and materials. When the Maoris first arrived in New
Zealand, they experienced a climate that was extreme compared to that of their homeland.
Fortunately, they had found a way to adapt quickly. They utilize their weaving skills to make
korowai (cloaks), and other useful items like kete (baskets), and whakiri (mats). The
harakeke, also known as New Zealand flax, is the most widely used weaving material.
Traditionally, this job was done by woman only. Skilled weavers received prizes from their
tribes. The Maoris have a proverb, Aitia te wahine o te pa harakeke, which means Marry the
woman who is always at the flax bush, for she is an expert flax worker and an industrious
person. On the other hand, the Maori men are excellent carvers. Their crafts included precious
ornaments, weapons, and musical instruments, et cetera. The carving styles are rich in
symbolism and varied through different tribes. The symbols include the tiki (the human
figure), and the manaia, a creature with a bird-like head and a serpent-like body. Both are
associated with guardianship. Traditional patterns were often inspired by the natural
environment.
As you can see, the Maoris and their culture are one of a kind. Both have contributed into
making New Zealand a more diverse country and serve as its symbol. The government has
established government funding, organizations and schooling systems to encourage the learning
and usage of the Maori language. This results in young Maoris becoming more and more aware
of their culture and origin, helping to preserve national heritage.