The History of the Maoris

Experts now say that the Island of New Zealand was first occupied in the thirteenth century, perhaps earlier. The first immigrants of New Zealand came from central Polynesia. The Maori legends support this theory. There was probably many arrivals at different times but what is certain is that they all came from the same source.

The discovery of Aotearoa, was first made by the legendary Polynesian explorer Kupe. Kupe lived on an Island called Raiatea, which was Hawaiki in legend form. As a true and real explorer Kupe and his companion Ngahue set off in two canoes to the south to see what lay beyond the horizon. Eventually Kupe and Ngahue arrived at The Island. From the sea the island resembled a long white cloud in the distance. Kupe's wife, Hine-te-aparangi, called out: "He ao, he ao!" (a cloud, a cloud) and so the place was named Aotea which meant bright cloud. As time went by, they changed the name to Aotearoa, which is now known as "The Land of the Long White Cloud"

The Art of Carving

Moari carvings are very different from the other carving in Polynesia yet there is a similarity between all carvings that suggest the art of carving originally came from a particular place or source.

The distinctive carvings of the Moari people Whakairo are caused by the isolation of the country. Because New Zealand was not in contact with the other islands in the Pacific Ocean they developed their own way of carving. The carvings in New Zealand are also carved out of the same material. Kauri a tree provided the perfect material for people to work on.

The greatest advance in the art of carving was when steel tools came when the English bought them to New Zealand in the early eighteenth century. The steel tools made it easier for houses, boats and monuments to the dead to be carved.

One of the favorite carvings of the people is the human figure. The human Figure is based on a human but varies from each carving. the carving always shown with its tongue is often called the Manaia. Then the carvers had to do the same but nowadays the carvers have greater freedom.

The Marae

In any Moari tribe you will find a Marae, which contains its Wharenui. (the meeting house) and Wharekai .(dining room). The dining room today replaces the old Pataka. (store room) and is where the food is eaten after the formal matters have been discussed.Each Marae has a different name. The meeting house also has a name, the name is usually revered to a male ancestor whose wife makes a name for the near dining hall too.

The meeting house is believed to have a "spiritual identity of its own". It represents the ancestor, the chief. The Maihi, (the front barge boards) for his welcoming arms, the rafters for his ribs and the ridge pole for his spine. This is the reason why a lot of the time the people refer to the meeting house as the "Ancestor House".

Music

Music was an important part of the Maori civilization. No Maori celebration was complete without music.

An enormous amount of songs or WAIATA were composed over the centuries. They remind people about the history, myths, and special events. Many of these songs employ many emotions from the composer himself, including hatred, contempt, grief, happiness and love. Songs are composed to honor visitors, requests for help and aid. Songs were part of the ritual and contain many myths, beliefs and incidents from the past. The Maoris used mainly wind instruments like PU TATARA which was made from the triton shell and PU KAEA that was made of two hollowed wooden pieces bound together.