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New Zealand is an Island country located in the south western Pacific Ocean. New Zealand is split into 3 parts the top Island is North Island, Middle island is South Island and the little island on the end is Stewart Island. Found at the south-western tip of the North Island is the capitol of New Zealand, Wellington. It has a population of 389,700and is the third-most populatedurban area of the country.Auckland, situated in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest city in the country covering an area of 419.3 square miles. It is also the most-populous urban area in the country, with approximately 1,354,900 residents.New Zealand covers a complete land area of 104,453 square miles. The Islands/countries around New Zealand are Fiji, Australia, and Tonga. According to the 2010 survey, the estimated population of the country is 4,393,500.The government of New Zealand is law-makingsocial equality and a legal monarchy.

Monarch-Elizabeth
Governor-General-Jerry-Mateparae
Prime Minister - John Key

Maori culture is the culture of New Zealand.

New Zealand has a shorter human history than other countries. The exact date of settlement is quite hard to find, but current understanding is that the first arrivals came from east Polynesia in the 13th century. It was not until 1642 that Europeans became aware the country existed. Some/Most people believe the Maori came from Hawaiki. The navigator credited in some traditions is Maui.

In pre- European times Maori people identified themselves by their iwi (tribe), Much as other people, Maori identity could be defined as having certain qualities. Their customs and traditions influenced the way they thinked and lived. To the Maori, your genealogy doesn’t start from grandparents and ancestors but which mountain you bow to, what river/lake or sea you feed from. Their identity also starts with what marae shelters you, and what tribe you fight to standfor. Your identity can be shown in a mihi, a mihi is a like a speech introducing yourself and identity.

According to Māori mythology, creation of their deities and human beings began with first parents, Papatūānuku (Earth, the mother) and Ranginui (Sky, the father).

They had 70 male children, including eight divine offspring known as:

  • TāneMahuta the god of humans, forests, birds, and animals
  • Haumiatiketike, the god of uncultivated food
  • Rongomatane, the god of peace and agriculture
  • Tāwhirimātea, the god of weather
  • Ruaumoko, the god of earthquakes
  • Tangaroa, the god of the sea
  • Tūmatauenga, the war god
  • Whiro, the god of darkness and evil

Traditional Maori life nearly revolves around the marae. The marae is a meeting house for special celebrations like funerals and weddings.

Since ancient times, this community has been celebrating its New Year day or Matariki, sometime in the month of June. Earlier, the New Year celebrations coincided with viewing of Pleiades cluster in the Taurus constellation. However, in current times, the festival is celebrated for three consecutive days starting from the full moon day that immediately follows Pleiades viewing. Some famous attractions of this day are family reunions, traditional hāngi feasts, planting of new trees or crops and making offering to Rongomatane, the god of agriculture.
Spiritual Beliefs
Traditionally, the Maori believe that all things, alive, are connected by common to gods who resided in mountains, rivers and lakes. Most likelyoutstanding to this belief, the Māori community had strong ties with nature and land, in particular.

Most of the Māori ceremonies take place in friendship with protocols called tikanga. Certain kawa (customs) might vary according to an iwi. The word tikanga is used to describe the Māori customs and traditions which have been passed to each generation for centuries. Māori people believe that their past is in front of them in order to guide them. On the other hand, the future is said to be behind, because nobody can see it.

Christianity came part of New Zealand around the 19th century.

Why are there different ways to express Maori culture?

Figure 1

It is important it is to express yourself so people know who you are and your identity (your culture, hobbies, values, beliefs, passions and others). Alsoimagine if there was just one way of expressing culture, for example language, there probably wouldn’t be any cultures in the world.

Figure 1 shows a graphic organizer which shows some of the ways Maori culture is expressed.

How is the Maori culture similar to other cultures around the world?

The Maori culture is similar to other cultures around the world, in particular, the Native American Indians in the United States of America and the indigenous Aborigines in Australia.

Although unique in its own right, the beliefs of the Maori culture are expressed in these similar ways

  • They all value land
  • They respect and honour animals
  • They are spiritual, have stories told from 1 generation to the next
  • Only used what they needed e.g. hunting, fishing
  • Often celebrated with dances and songs
  • Homes were made of twigs, grass, and other things from nature
  • First people in their country
  • Told stories on bark, caves and rocks

There are many aspects of the Maori culture that are still viewed as valid in today’s modern society.

Rivers:

Rivers are protected by the Atua; therefore the Maori people have to ask the atua’s permission to go fishing or swimming. Maori culture regarded and respected rivers.

Health and Wellbeing:

Maori culture pays attention to the key aspects of your life is important (caring for soul, body, mind and whanau) Te Taha wairua is spiritual wellbeing, Te Taha Warua can represent your identity. Te Taha Hinengaro is to do with the well being of your mind and emotions.

We don’t use Maori language often ALL the time, we use English. Most Maori have converted to Christianity. Most introduced species has almost wiped out the native kiwi and other native animals ad also nature. Now most people don’t live in maraes or villages. Weaponry has improved like for example they used to use spears now we have guns. Our clothing isn’t made of flax we only use clothing out of flax for entertainment such as haka and marae visits.New Zealand has generally become a farming/trading country, when before Maori only harvested what they needed. Land was thought to belong to no one, but to their Gods.

These are the ways you can express Maori culture:

  • Wear ponamu
  • Speak Maori
  • Language
  • Performing kapahaka
  • Clothing
  • How you do things
  • Marae visits
  • Learning from family
  • Music/singing
  • Writing/reading/speaking
  • Sports
  • Ta moko
  • Legends and Myths
  • School

The treaty of Waitangi is one of the most important history headlines in Maori culture. It’s when the Europeans discovered the homeland of the Maori culture in December 1642. If it wasn’t for the treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand wouldn’t be what it is now. So it’s basically when the Maori agreed to sell their land to the British ruler. Waitangi day is celebrated on the 6th of February.

One of the most important t history headlines in Ngai Tahu tribe is the Kaiapoi Pa. The Kaiapoi pa was once an ancient trade site. Where the Ngai Tahu tribe traded ponamu stones for their own use. The pa was eventually destroyed by Te Rauparaha’s raids (North Island chief) in 1832 and many lives were lost.When the Pa was taken, it was no longer populated and ever since, it has been left to nature and memories, although the memorial is cared for. Fugitives from the old fallen pa eventually set up a new settlement to the west, at what is now Tuahiwi village. The guardian of pounamu is Ngai Tahu

Therefore the Maori culture should be keeping Maori culture strong because if we don’t, nobody probably won’t remember it. The Maori cultures have to keep expressing their culture, if they don’t everything will be lost, gone. They’ll be conflict. People need to keep in mind, what’s my identity, what’s my family tree? What’s my culture?

Glossary:

Atua-god

Deities-god or goddess

Iwi-tribe

Kapa haka- Maori cultural dance

Kia ora- hello

Marae-meeting house

Mihi-Maori ceremonial greeting

Pounamu-green stone-highly valued nephrite jade

Ta moko- Maori cultural tattoo

Te TahaHinengaro-well-being of mind and emotions

Te Taha wairua-spiritual well being

Te Taha warua-identity

Whanau-family

Bibliography

Websites

(n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2013, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org

A Maori View of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2013, from

Christianity in New Zealand. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2013, from Wikipedia:

Fishing up an Island. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2013, from

Māori arrival and settlement. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2013, from Te Ara:

Rivers. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2013, from Sea Keepers:

Similarities between Maori culture. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2013, from Cultures: brendatodd.edublog.com

Human Resources

Nichol, V. (2013, August). Maori Culture. (Z. Nichol, Interviewer)