EN : The Maori

The Maori

Kupe is the first Polynesian to arrive on the land of Aotearoa, in Maori language “the country of the long white cloud”.

The Maoris arrived 700 years ago before English and Dutch people with outrigger or double “waka” (canoes). They came with animals, like pigs, dogs, rats, chickens, as well as with roots and tree crops.

The Maoris are warriors and travellers. They made weapons for the war as well as for hunting and hooks for fishing because they were also fishermen. They hunted seals, dolphins and moas (big birds like ostriches; they have been hunted to extinction).

They have brought with them traditions from Polynesia like tatous, engraving and sculpture as well as the Maori language.

tatou

It’s a tradition from the Islands to made canoes and Maori are very good at it. The canoes were fast, sailing at about 4 to 7 knots (7 to 13 Kph) or more in a good wind. They were about 15 to 25 metres long. They could easily cover 160 km in a day and could carry 40 to 50 people.

The longuest waka in the world, 35m.

The Maori have chosen a symbol for New Zealand: the silver fern. In a greeting ceremony, when two tribes are meeting, the leaf is presented on the floor by one chief to the other. The leaf is picked up when the tribe has come in peace. Then the two chiefs greet forehead against forehead.

The Maoris are warriors and travellers. They made weapons for the war as well as for hunting and hooks for fishing because they were also fishermen. They hunted seals, dolphins and moas (big birds like ostriches; they have been hunted to extinction).

They have brought with them traditions from Polynesia like tatous, engraving and sculpture as well as the Maori language.

The art of tatou

I have watched a Maori show with typical songs and dances from the islands. They have also performed the Haka, the Maori war dance. It was very impressive! The performance took place in a Maori greeting house. This house represents the human skeleton and Kupe is placed on the roof.

Kupe

The greeting house

The Haka 

I hope you enjoyed this article.

Djaïro