Geographical and Political Maps of the Maori Region.

 

   

 

Maori are the 'host people' of New Zealand. Although described by many as 'Maori' in fact Maori are a composition of many Iwi (Tribes) Hapu (Subtribes) and Whanau units.

Their name is derived from Ma-Uri, which means Children of Heaven.

Originally they were hunters, but soon became peasants, living of agriculture

 

    History   

 

Polynesian navigator Kupe has been created with the discovery of New Zealand in 950 AD. He named it Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud. Maoris arrivals into Aotearoa developed into tribed and as tribs grew, into sub tribes. This Tribal system is still in use today and is a strong feature in Maori land issues and treaty right claims. There culture subsequently developed with little or no interferance from outside influenses. Being warriors they engaged in inter-tribal battles (mostly over territory). With the losers of the battle they became salves or food. Canabalization of the body was a way of securing an enemys power or mana. Maori hitory was not recorded using the written words; instead, it was kept in long specific and highly stylised songs and chants. Protocol was elaborate and involved other forms of greetings known as the haka (war chant) and wero (challenge) which are still used today.

 

                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lrE2JcO44&feature=related

 

The Haka

 

To most people the haka is a war dance. This is understandable as many have seen the haka performed as a pre-battle challenge to their opposition. But the word "haka" simply means a dance, or a song accompanied by dance. While they are the correct terms to associate with the haka, they do not do justice to the life force, the actions,

words, rhythm, themes, meaning, style or history that are the haka.While there are many variations between the types of war dance the common feature is that they are all performed with weapons. In pre-European and early contact times, the haka was used as a part of the formal process when two parties came together. 

 

Traditions

 

The traditional Maori welcome is called a powhiri, this involves a hongi which is a greeting that involves pressing noses as opposed to a kiss.

Also the Haka (War Dance) was traditionally used as you have read above.

Another Tradition of the Maori culture are the tattoos that were worn. Full faced tattoos or "moko", on the Maori tribes was Part of the male activity. Female forms of moko were restricted to the chin area, the upper lip, and the nostrils. Today the Moko still lives on as an increasing number of Maori who are opting to receive their Moko, in an effort to preserve their culture and identity.

 

When the Moari people stick their toungues out it is a way of telling their enemy that " Your Flesh Looks Tasty to me" .

 

 

A traditional form of cooking called a Hangi is a feast cooked in the earth. Stones are heated in a fire in a dug out pit and covered in cabbage leaves to stop the food from burning. Pork, Chicken, Potatoes and Kumera (a sweet potato) are then lowered into the pit in a basket. The food is covered with Mutton cloth or similar and traditionally with flax. Finally earth is placed on top to keep in the steam. The food takes about Three hours to cook. The Hangi is still popular. The unique taste of food cooked in a Hangi can best be described as steamed food with an earthen flavour.

 

 

 

Maori Art

 

Art has always been an important part in the Moari culture. Along with the "Moko" The full faced tattoos.

Traditionally Maori art was created with the materials available at the time. Such as Wood, Bone, Shell and feathers.Today, a greater variety of materials are used, although many artists continue to use these traditional materials today.he colours Black, Red and White are majorly used in the Moari art. The color red is a symbol of mana (prestige, power, status) and is therefore often used in the decoration of important items such as the buildings and structures around a marae (courtyard where formal greetings and discussions take place) and waka (canoes). 

 

 

         

 

Language Terms 

Maori Terms

 

 Aotearoa: land of the long white cloud

Awa: River

Haere mai: Welcome.

Haka: Chant with dance for the purpose of challenge.

Iti: Small

Iwi: tribe

Kai: Food

Kaumatua: Elder or elders.

Kia ora: Hi.

Mana: Authority and power.

Manga: Stream

Maunga: Mountain

Moana: Sea

Motu:Island

Pakeha: New Zealanders of European origin.

Roto: Lake

Tai: Coast

Tama: Son

Tamahine: Daughter

Tamariki: Children

Tangata whenua: Original people belonging to a place

Tapu: sacred, not to be touched.

Wahine: Women

Wai: Water

Whanga: harbour

Wharenui: Meeting house.

Whenua: Land.

 

Tapu & Mana: Ritual Authority and Political power in Traditional Maori Society

 

Leadership in the Maori society was composed of two complementary yet quite distinct aspect. Ritual and/or Religion authority.Such as the authority to perfrom and determine when life cycles and rites were to be held. Ritual Authory was more inherited. The political power was operated along very different lines. Activism and protest, particularly through the 1970 and 1980 gave Maori a voice in the body politic and brought Maori political issues to the forefront of public consciousness. Most importantly, this activism and protest delivered results. The establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal, key legal victories that secured Maori rights. the treaty settlement process, and just as importantly thriving Maori cultural NGO, and business sectors, all stemmed from the activism and protest of the 1970 and 1980. Through this Maori has won a degree of political power.They have also won seats in Parliment. they have moved ahead under this government at a faster rate than the general population.

 

Maori Birth Rituals

 

The Maori practiced many birth custom which concerned much superstition and rituals. This was only practiced among the more important families of a comunity and usually for the firstborn child.The birth process and parenting was helped by the Tohunga (or medicine man), midwives, her parents, other female relatives, and her husband. The Tohunga would recite charms and assist during any labour complications. Women would most commonly give birth in a squatting position while an assistant holding her by her shoulders would pressure her abdomen with her knees The most important ceramony performed over the child was the Tohi rite. This was an ancient form of baptism. Ritual was chanted and speeches were given by the relatives and both parents welcoming the newborn child into the world.

 

 

Myths and Legends 

 

The tradition of oral history--the telling of ancient stories, myths and legends--continues today. On manymarae, elders teach tribal lore, etiquette and genealogy. They also retell the stories that form the basis of Maori beliefs.

 

The Story of Kupe and Te Wheke

The story of Te Wheke

as told by Michael Elkington

"Once upon a time, the early Maori in Aotearoa (New Zealand) had a superhero called Maui. Maui had a pet blackbird (Tieke) that always kept him company, sitting on his shoulder while he made the ropes from flax and the ti tree to make a net.

Maui's plan was to catch the sun in the net, beat him into submission so that he would slow down his frantic race around the globe. This was to prolong the daylight hours and to give people more time to perform their daily tasks.

So, on the fateful day that Maui decided to cast the net, his pet bird went with him. In the struggles to keep the sun in the net, Maui told his bird to go home, as the heat from the sun was so intense he was afraid that his pets feathers would burn. In fact, he told the bird to go home several times, each time Tieke refused to leave.

Maui's hair was starting to melt in the heat, his skin was blistering, and still Tieke would not go home, so Maui grabbed the bird with his burnt hands and threw him down to the earth.

And that is why, to this day, the saddleback (tieke) has a burnt back."

 

 

Expert Topic:

I could not decide on what i wanted to expert in between the Maori Cannabalism and the Maori Tattooing. So i decided to do both :) 

 

Maori Cannibalism

 

 

Maori cannibalism was widespread throughout New Zealand. Cannabalism is the act of eating the same kind of species. Humans eating humans, Dogs eating Dogs, ext. In This case it was human against human. Victorious Maories often cut up the bodys of the dead after a battle and feasted on the flesh. Canibalism lasted for several hundred years until the 1830s. The widespread  of cannibalism was not a food issue but people were eaten often as part of a post-battle rage. Enemies were often captured and killed later to be eaten or killed.Rather than disposing of the body it was prepared to be eaten. PArt of this was also to send warnings to the other tribes. The moaris beleived killing the enemy wasnt enough. If you can chop them up and eat them and turn them into Food that is the greatest humiliation you can impose on them.

 

 

 

Ta Moko – The Art of Maori Tattooing.

 

Maori tattoos are among the most distinctive tattoos in the world and have their own identity. To the Maoris their skin is considered a living Canvas.The tattoo instrument was a bone chisel, either with a serrated or an extremely sharp straight edge. The first stage of the tattoo commenced with the graving of deep cuts into the skin. Next, a chisel was dipped into a sooty type pigment such as burnt Kauri gum or burnt vegetable caterpillars, and then tapped into the skin.It was an extremely painful and long process, and often leaves from the native Karaka tree were placed over the swollen tattoo cuts to hasten the healing process. Ta Moko is a symbol of Maori integrity, identity, and prestige. An ornately tattooed face was a great source of pride to a warrior, for it made him fierce in battle and attractive to women. Maori tattoos took months of aproval and planing on the part of the elders and other family members. First the elders decided whether one was worthy of receiving a moko.

 

 Ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally the fathers side and the right is their mothers.

 

The male facial tattoo - Moko - is generally divided into eight sections :

1. Ngakaipikirau (rank). The center forehead area
2. Ngunga (position). Around the brows
3. Uirere (hapu rank). The eyes and nose area
4. Uma (first or second marriage). The temples
5. Raurau (signature). The area under the nose
6. Taiohou (work). The cheek area
7. Wairua (mana).The chin
8. Taitoto (birth status). The jaw

 

 

 

Comparitave Civilization 12

Mr Lewis

Jessie-Lynn Ducharme

 

 

 

http://woodm.blogspot.com/2007/02/maori-party-and-maori-political-power.html

 

 

www.youtube.com

 

 

http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/maori-culture.html

 

 

http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/maori-culture.html

 

 

 

http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/culture/maori/