Māoritanga / Iwi

Tēnā koe, kia ora,ngā mihi! (Greetings and welcome one and all!)

*Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Māori settled from Eastern Polynesia in several waves of waka (canoe) voyages from the 1300s onwards. Over several centuries in isolation, these settlers developed their own distinctive culture, whose language, mythology, crafts and performing arts evolved independently from other cultures.

The arrival of Europeans started in the 17^th century, bringing enormous changes to the Māori way of life, and with the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, after a period of warfare, the two cultures coexisted. There is, however, ongoing negotiation about the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and equity of resources.

The 2018 census identified almost 776,000 people in New Zealand as ‘Māori,’ 10% live in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland).

The Māori language, Te Reo, is unique. Spoken to some extent by about a fifth of all Māori, who are active in all spheres of New Zealand culture and society, with independent representation in areas such as media, politics and sport.  If you are wanting to learn Te Reo, there is a comprehensive Māori Dictionary on the internet.

Māori culture is found throughout the world. Artists, athletes, writers, painters, sculptors, carvers, performers and entertainers excel. Māori have a natural gift for music, waiata (song,) comedy and haka (dance).

Te Tai Tokerau has a number of vibrant hapū (tribes, nations, people) and is rich in Māoritanga, (culture, traditions, way of life.) The mita (or dialect) of Taitokerau/Northland is unique.

KIA KAHA! (Stay strong!)              *for more info, see Wikipedia.