New Zealand History/Maori Lifestyle

‹ Back to Polynesian Settlement of New Zealand Māori Culture and Lifestyle up to 1840 thumb|right|A model of a Māori Pā Having come from a tropical region, Polynesians had to dramatically change their lifestyle to suit the new environment. Some of the biggest changes the Polynesians had to adapt to were that New Zealand was much larger and had a more temperate climate than the islands they had migrated from. This meant they had to build houses on the ground rather than on stilts to keep them warmer, and they had to develop much warmer clothing. They had to adapt to new ways of hunting, fishing, and building. Gradually, the Māori dispersed themselves over New Zealand in different tribes, with different chiefs as leaders. thumb|right|A map of the tribes of New Zealand The Māori people are known amongst themselves by their iwi (tribal) affiliations, which often reflected the particular waka (canoe) to which an individual could trace their oral history or lineage. Intermarriage between iwi was a way of strengthening alliances between various tribal groupings. Within iwi (tribal groups), smaller hapu (family groups or sub-tribes) were organised. New Zealand eventually became divided into tribal territories, which were recognised by other tribes with predominant land features (rivers, mountains, lakes). The first Māori settlements were mostly located around harbours or river mouths where fish and seabirds lived. New Zealand, unlike their original islands, was abundant in wild game, so the Māori used both agriculture and hunting to sustain the iwi. One of their main sources of food was the moa, a large flightless bird. The moa varied in size from the height of a turkey to 3.7 metres high. Unfortunately, this made them easy targets, and they became extinct due to overhunting by about 1500. Māori used a variety of hand-to-hand combat weapons made from stone, bone, wood, and pounamu (greenstone). Their traditional weapons included the mere (short, broad clubs typically made of nephrite jade or basalt), the patu (short clubs shaped for striking or thrusting) and the taiaha (long wooden staff weapons used for striking and thrusting with both ends). Other common weapons included the tewhatewha (axe-like striking weapons) and the ihu (long spears). These weapons relied heavily on close-quarters combat skills, agility, and tactical defensive structures like pā (fortified villages). An average pā included ditches, banks, and palisades for protection. One of the most popular commodities the Māori were interested in trading for was muskets. Muskets were a valuable asset to tribes. The introduction of muskets made inter-tribal wars far more dangerous, especially when a tribe with muskets faced one without. Māori have their own religion with their own atua (gods). Atua are powerful spiritual entities that personify natural phenomena. They might be understood as supernatural beings or deified ancestors who hold jurisdiction over specific parts of the environment, such as the ocean or forests. Communities often approach atua through prayer and adherence to tikanga (protocols) like tapu (system of sacred practices) to maintain balance and respect within the natural world. After the arrival of Europeans, many Māori converted to Christianity. Māori refer to themselves as Māori, which translates as 'normal' or 'ordinary' in te reo Māori (the Māori language). A written form of the Māori language was created following the arrival of Europeans. Men have full-face tattoos, called moko, that reflect this identity, as well as other attributes such as status and bravery. Women also have tattoos on their lower lips and chins, called moko kauae, which represent both whakapapa (lineage) and status. The art of tattooing is highly tapu. Forward to First European Explorers to Discover New Zealand ›