New
Zealand's historic landmarks reflect both European
and Maori aspects of New Zealand's history. Evidence
of early European settlement dates predominantly
from the 1830s, but Maori settlements and pa sites
(villages) constructed prior to the arrival of
European settlers were made from earth and wood
and have mostly disappeared.
One of New Zealand's most important historic sites
is at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, where the
Treaty of Waitangi was signed, joining Maori and
British as one nation. The earliest part of the
house was built in 1834.
Other notable buildings include Te Tokanganui-A-Noho,
one of the finest nineteenth century Maori meeting
houses in existence, at Te Kuiti in the southern
Waikato; and the second largest wooden building
in the world, New Zealand's former Government
Buildings, in Wellington. Across the road, you
will also find the newly refurbished Parliament
Buildings and General Assembly Library.
Many beautiful old churches and cathedrals, early
missionary buildings and historic homesteads and
mansions can be found throughout the country.
Indigenous
Culture
The Maori people are the indigenous people of
Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here
in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral
homeland of Hawaiki over 1000 years ago. Today,
Maori make up over 14 percent of the population.
Their language and culture has a major impact
on all facets of New Zealand life.
Rich
and Varied
Maori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes
traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional
arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group
performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo)
are practised throughout the country. Practitioners
following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors)
replicate the techniques used hundreds of years
ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques
and forms. Today Maori culture also includes art,
film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.
Feature Presentation
Te Reo Maori — the Maori Language
The visitor to New Zealand will become immediately
aware of the Maori language as the vast majority
of place names are of Maori origin. At first,
visitors may be puzzled by the seemingly impossible-
to-pronounce names. In fact, Maori has a logical
structure, and, unlike English, has very consistent
rules of pronunciation.
How
Do You Say Onehunga, Whangamomona, Kahikatea,
and Nguru?
Maori consists of five vowel sounds: a e i o u
(‘a’ as in ‘car’, ‘e’
as in ‘egg’, ‘i’ like
the ‘ee’ in ‘tee’, ‘u’
like an ‘o’ in ‘to’).
There are eight consonants in Maori similar to
those in English — ‘h’, ‘k’,
‘m’, ‘n’, ‘p’,
‘r’, ‘t’, and ‘w’.
There are also two different consonants —
‘wh’ and ‘ng’. Many Maori
pronounce the ‘wh’ sound similar to
our ‘f’. The ‘ng’ is similar
to our own ‘ng’ sound in a word like
‘sing’, except that in Maori, words
can start with ‘ng’.
Kia
ora = Gidday!
An attempt by a visitor to use Maori greetings
will almost certainly elicit a delighted response
from both Maori and Pakeha (European) New Zealanders.
Kia
ora — Hello
Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone
Tena koe — Greetings to you (said to one
person)
Tena koutou — Greeting to you all
Haere mai — Welcome
Nau mai — Welcome
Kei te pehea koe? — How’s it going?
Kei te pai — Good
Tino pai — Really good
Haere ra — Farewell
Ka kite ano — Until I see you again (Bye)
Hei konei ra — See you later
Maori Protocol
Being a tribal Polynesian people, Maori have a
unique protocol. The best place to observe it
is on a marae (Maori meeting grounds). Many tourist
operators in New Zealand organise visits to marae.
Welcome
to the Powhiri
A powhiri (formal welcome) at a marae begins with
wero (challenge) A warrior from the tangata whenua
(hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests).
He may carry a spear (taiaha) then lay down a
token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri
will pick up to show they come in peace. Some
kuia (women) from the tangata whenua (hosts) will
perform a karanga (call/chant) to the manuhiri.
Women from the manuhiri will then respond as they
move onto the marae in front of their men.
Whaikorero
— Speeches of Welcome
Once inside the wharenui (meeting house) on the
marae, mihimihi (greetings) and whaikorero (speeches)
are made. To reinforce the good wishes of the
speeches, waiata (songs) may be sung. It is usual
for the manuhiri then present a koha (gift) to
the tangata whenua after greeting the hosts with
a hongi — the ceremonial touching of noses.
After the powhiri, kai (food) may be shared.
Stories
and Legends
Maori is an oral culture rich with stories and
legends. The Maori creation story describes the
world being formed by the violent separation of
Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, the
Earth Mother, by their children. Many Maori carvings
and artworks graphically depict this struggle.
Fishing
Up An Island
The creation of New Zealand is described by the
legend of Maui. This god was a cheeky trickster
who managed, among other things, to harness the
sun in order to make the days longer. However,
his biggest claim to fame was his fishing up of
the North Island, which is described as Te Ika
a Maui (the fish of Maui). A look at an aerial
map of the North Island will show how closely
it resembles a fish. Maori believe the far north
to be the tail of the fish and Wellington Harbour
the mouth. Maori describe the South Island as
Maui’s waka (canoe) and Stewart Island (Rakiura)
as his punga (anchor).
Happy
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