Rise of the Māori
The Maori people of New Zealand are one of the most fascinating surviving tribal cultures of the ever-changing, fast-paced world we live in today. With their distinct culture, rich mythology, and captivating traditional dances, these peoples give an entirely fresh outlook on the differences between cultures that still exist today, in our modernized society.
It was in 1250-1300 BC that the island of New was populated by newly arrived settlers from Eastern Polynesia by way of canoes. Because the Polynesian peoples' home land was overpopulated and running out of resources, the government of New Zealand offered them jobs if they were to immigrate to the isolated stretch of land. The unique landscape and centuries of isolation allowed the people to create their own culture, as well as their own language, traditions, beliefs, mythology, crafts, and performing arts. This new culture was to be known as "Māori".
The early organization of Māori culture was strongly based on Eastern Polynesian social customs and stratification; tribal groups were created, and warrior culture emerged and was emphasized.
Starting in the early 17th century, European settlers began to arrive and ultimately change the Māori way of life, a little bit at a time - the New Zealand natives slowly began to adopt various aspects of Western culture and society brought in by the settlers. The Māori Purposes Act in 1947 finally changed the name "natives" to the new "Māori", a word that means natural, normal, or ordinary - this was a way of distinguishing mortal people from their deities.
(Māori people. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved June 8, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_people)
Initial relations between the Māori and Europeans were peaceful, and this lead to the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. One of the most important signatories for this treaty, as well as an accomplished warrior, was chief Tamati Waaka - the treaty handed the rights of British people to the Māori.
Despite the coexistence as a new British colony, tensions began to rise and conflicts over land sales tore the peace is the 1860's.
(See Maori People - Wikipedia.)
Despite the coexistence as a new British colony, tensions began to rise and conflicts over land sales tore the peace is the 1860's.
(See Maori People - Wikipedia.)