Maori Culture
March 15, 2008 |15:34 | Colourful Festivals | Gossips | In Pursuit of Beauty | The Circle of Life By : Team X
The Maori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand. They are Polynesian and comprise about 10% of the country's population. Maoritanga is the native language which is related to Tahitian and Hawaiian. It is believed that the Maori migrated from Polynesia in canoes about the 9th century to 13th century AD.
Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to encounter the Maori. Four members of his crew were killed in a bloody encounter in 1642. In 1769 British explorer James Cook established friendly relations with some Maori. By 1800, visits by European ships were relatively frequent.
At this time, the Maori population was severely reduced with the arrival of European settlers. War & disease took their toll till eventually the population dropped to about 100,000.
In 1840 representatives of Britain and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty established British rule, granted the Maori British citizenship, and recognized Maori land rights.
Today many of the treaty's provisions are disputed and there has been an effort from the New Zealand Government to recompense Maori Tribes for some land that was illegally confiscated.
The present Maori population has increased to about 250,000 and the Maori live in all parts of New Zealand, but predominately in the North Island where the climate is warmer.
The Maori have adapted well to living in 21st century New Zealand, yet they have retained their unique culture, and this rich culture contributes much to New Zealand as a whole.
1 Comments
taniya
June 21, 2010 |11:29
please give ore information on maori culture so that every point is clear .note it
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