Kia ora tatou!

Voyaging canoe

The headline is Mãori language and means “Hello everyone!”

In New Zealand there is a special kind of ethnical group called the Mãoris. The Mãori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand, and they arrived in small voyaging canoes probably in 950.

The Mãori people were originally from Polynesia, and they had a different lifestyle than the New Zealanders. It was a great transition from the tropical Polynesia to the cold New Zealand, and the Mãoris gave New Zealand the name Aotearoa which means “Land of the long white cloud” because of the high mountains covered with snow. 

 After the appearance of the Mãori people, New Zealand became affected of the Mãori settlement. There were formed tribes, built new villages and made new music and art. The Mãori people also introduced New Zealand for fishing, hunting and agriculture. Today the most well-known Mãori tradition is the oral story telling. Myth, legends, traditions and etiquette are being retold through the oral language, and the stories that form the basis of Maori beliefs are special important.

A Powhir

Today 14 percent of the New Zealand population belongs to the Mãori. They still continue to show their unique culture, and it is developed organized visits for tourists who want to see the old, but beautiful religion. When the tourists first arrive to the marae, which is the meeting point for special occasions, they will get a traditional formal welcoming, a powhiri. A powhiri starts with a challenge. The Mãoris will challenge the guests by laying a spear on the ground. One of the guests picks up the spear to show that they come in peace. Then the hosts will perform some moves that the guests will eventually imitate. After the traditional welcoming, the guests will be brought to a house. There speeches, songs and gifts are being shared, and at the end of the ceremony they may get some food.

Sources:
- http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm
- http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/maori-stories-and-legends.html
- http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/culture/maori/