Who are the Maori?

About Maori:

• The Maori Tribe is an indigenous tribe who have inhabited New Zealand for centuries.
• Maori were originally settled primarily in the northern parts of the North Island, New Zealand. South Island was much more sparsely settled.
• Culturally, they are Polynesians, most closely related to eastern Polynesians. 
• Maori culture has endured centuries of torture and struggle, first in the hands of the ‘Crown’, and later others who wished to claim a spot on their land.
• Language: Maori is classified as part of the Polynesian Group of the Eastern Oceanic Branch of the Austronesian languages.
  • Approximately one-third of the Maori still speak their ancestral language, with the vast majority fluent in English as well.
• According to data from the 2013 census, there were 598,605 Māori in the country, making up 14.9 percent of the total population. 
• Their distinctive costumes serve as a visual expression of their heritage, reflecting their deep connection to the land and ancestral spirits.
• The most famous aspect of the Maori culture is the Haka, a powerful war dance known for its intensity, facial expressions, and rhythm.
• Another very prominent identity of the Maori people are their tattoos, which can be seen on their faces.
  • These tattoos are called ‘ta moko’ which is a traditional Maori art form, deeply symbolic and respected.
  • Ta moko designs are unique to each person and are a depiction of their social status, their genealogy, what they have done for society, and more.

Q1: What is Polynesia?

Polynesia—from the Greek for “many islands”—is a collection of over 1,000 islands strewn over a broad region of the Pacific Ocean known as the Polynesian triangle. Bounded by (and including) Hawai’i to the north, Easter Island to the southeast, and New Zealand to the southwest, the vast Polynesian triangle covers an area equivalent to North and South America combined. 

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