The Legends and History of the Maori People

The Legends and History of the Maori People of New Zealand

The term “Maori” refers the native Polynesian peoples of New Zealand. They are, hence, related to the native peoples of Samoa, Hawaii and the Polynesian Islands of the South Pacific. They constitute about 10% of the total population of New Zealand. Their mother tongue belies their Polynesian origins that are similar to other Polynesian languages such as Hawaiian and Tahitian. The ancestors of the Maori are widely believed to have arrived in New Zealand sometime before the 13th century after Christ.

First contact was made with the Maori by the outside world by able Dutch navigator and explorer Abel Tasman. Needless to say, the first contact wasn’t a friendly one. But it was the exploits of British adventurer Captain James Cook which made peace with the Maori tribes ensuring that European visits in the 1800s were without incident.

With the arrival of the Europeans into New Zealand, the impact on the native Maori population was an adverse one with disease ravaging the native populations drastically.

The Europeans gained a firm foothold in New Zealand only with the signing of the famous Treaty of Waitangi. In return for British sovereignty over New Zealand, the Maoris were granted citizenship of the British Isles and land rights.

However, the terms of the treaty as they relate to land rights are currently under dispute and the New Zealand is putting in a genuine effort to redress the wrongs of Maori lands that were seized illegally. This echoes the Mabo decision across the Tasman straits.

In modern times, the Maori population has doubled its numbers since the first arrival of the Europeans. They prefer to live in the warmer climate of the North Island but they are found all over New Zealand.

The Maori are a people who are true survivors and they have shown resilience in the face of adversity. They live in a modern country, but their traditions are centuries old and their survival enriches the cultural fabric of the country that is New Zealand.