By: Muhammad Nizar
As we know that New Zealand (NZ) is a part of British Commonwealth. Much of contemporary NZ cultures are derived from British roots. But, before British came into this region, there are Polynesians came first. The Polynesians are Maori. Archaeologists refer to two branches of Maori: the archaic, and the traditional. The archaic Maori were probably the original inhabitants of NZ. They relied on the moa, a large, flightless bird that they hunted into extinction. Their culture dates back to around AD 1000. The traditional Maori are believed to have migrated to the North Island around the fourteenth century. The original homeland of the traditional Maori was in the Society Islands of Polynesia. Maori migrants left there to escape warfare and the demands of excessive tribute (taxes). Contemporary, about one in seven NZ (a total of 526,281 in 2001) identify themselves ethnically as Maori. The proportion of those who have some Maori blood is expected to increase because Maori women are having more babies than European or Asian women. NZ is named by British, but Maori named Aotearoa for NZ. The anthem for NZ is “God Defend New Zealand & God Save Queen”. As part of British Commonwealth, NZ has Queen HM Elizabeth II as Head of State.
The official languages are English (majority), Maori (the largest minority), Asian, etc. Because of English as majority language, ethnic groups of NZ are European (majority), Maori, Asian, Pacific peoples. The most common language after English and Maori is Samoan, spoken by more than 80,000 people. This is followed by Tongan, and the Chinese dialects of Cantonese and Mandarin. NZ’s population is close to three-quarters European in origin, largely because until the mid-1970s immigrants came overwhelmingly from Europe. More recent immigrants have come also from the Pacific Islands and Asia. The number of children of mixed ethnic parentage is increasing. More than half of the children of mixed ethnicity are European–Maori. NZ is becoming less European, because European birth rates are lower than those of other ethnic groups.
Maori are Tangata Whenua (the people of the land). Maori culture is a basic identity of NZ. Maori dissimilarities from Pākehā those are obvious in community traditions such as tangi (interments). Maori has less live index compared to most other groups. They have lower life expectancy, living and housing standards, poorer health, and lower educational attainments. Until the mid-20th century the Maori population was largely rural. By 2001 Maori were as likely to be living in cities and larger towns as the rest of the population. When Maori and Pākehā began living in closer proximity, the belief that the country had ‘the best race relations in the world’ was tested. A race relations conciliator was first appointed in 1971 to help combat racial discrimination.
Traditional Maori folklore describes an original couple, Rangi (sky) and Papa (earth). These two were locked in sexual union until the god Tane was able to push them apart and provide for the creation of human life. Maori folklore focuses on oppositions between pairs, such as earth and sky, life and death, and male and female. Before contact with outside cultures, Maori religion was based on the important concepts of mana and tapu. Mana is an impersonal force that can be both inherited and acquired by individuals in the course of their lives. Tapu refers to sacredness that was assigned by status at birth. There was a direct relation between the two: chiefs with the most mana were also the most tapu. The English word "taboo" derives from this general Polynesian word and concept of a mysterious superhuman force. Ancestor worship was important in traditional religion. Today, many Maori are Christian (primarily Anglican, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic).
Maoris typically wear modern Western-style clothing. However, they still wear their traditional clothing for special occasions. Traditional Maori clothing was some of the most elaborate in Polynesia. Intricately decorated cloaks were an important item of dress for individuals of high status within Maori society. Tattooing among the Maori was highly developed and extremely symbolic. Maori facial tattoos were created by two methods. One was by piercing and pigmenting the skin with a tattooing comb. The other was by creating permanent grooves in the face with a chisel-like instrument. Male facial tattooing, called ta moko, was done in stages in a male's life through adulthood. Females were also tattooed in Maori society. Female facial tattooing was known as ta ngutu. Designs were placed on the chin and lips. There is a growing revival of this art among younger Maori women nowadays.
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Sources:
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/NewZealandInBrief/Society/en
http://history-nz.org
http://www.maori.org.nz/
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Maori.html
As we know that New Zealand (NZ) is a part of British Commonwealth. Much of contemporary NZ cultures are derived from British roots. But, before British came into this region, there are Polynesians came first. The Polynesians are Maori. Archaeologists refer to two branches of Maori: the archaic, and the traditional. The archaic Maori were probably the original inhabitants of NZ. They relied on the moa, a large, flightless bird that they hunted into extinction. Their culture dates back to around AD 1000. The traditional Maori are believed to have migrated to the North Island around the fourteenth century. The original homeland of the traditional Maori was in the Society Islands of Polynesia. Maori migrants left there to escape warfare and the demands of excessive tribute (taxes). Contemporary, about one in seven NZ (a total of 526,281 in 2001) identify themselves ethnically as Maori. The proportion of those who have some Maori blood is expected to increase because Maori women are having more babies than European or Asian women. NZ is named by British, but Maori named Aotearoa for NZ. The anthem for NZ is “God Defend New Zealand & God Save Queen”. As part of British Commonwealth, NZ has Queen HM Elizabeth II as Head of State.
The official languages are English (majority), Maori (the largest minority), Asian, etc. Because of English as majority language, ethnic groups of NZ are European (majority), Maori, Asian, Pacific peoples. The most common language after English and Maori is Samoan, spoken by more than 80,000 people. This is followed by Tongan, and the Chinese dialects of Cantonese and Mandarin. NZ’s population is close to three-quarters European in origin, largely because until the mid-1970s immigrants came overwhelmingly from Europe. More recent immigrants have come also from the Pacific Islands and Asia. The number of children of mixed ethnic parentage is increasing. More than half of the children of mixed ethnicity are European–Maori. NZ is becoming less European, because European birth rates are lower than those of other ethnic groups.
Maori are Tangata Whenua (the people of the land). Maori culture is a basic identity of NZ. Maori dissimilarities from Pākehā those are obvious in community traditions such as tangi (interments). Maori has less live index compared to most other groups. They have lower life expectancy, living and housing standards, poorer health, and lower educational attainments. Until the mid-20th century the Maori population was largely rural. By 2001 Maori were as likely to be living in cities and larger towns as the rest of the population. When Maori and Pākehā began living in closer proximity, the belief that the country had ‘the best race relations in the world’ was tested. A race relations conciliator was first appointed in 1971 to help combat racial discrimination.
Traditional Maori folklore describes an original couple, Rangi (sky) and Papa (earth). These two were locked in sexual union until the god Tane was able to push them apart and provide for the creation of human life. Maori folklore focuses on oppositions between pairs, such as earth and sky, life and death, and male and female. Before contact with outside cultures, Maori religion was based on the important concepts of mana and tapu. Mana is an impersonal force that can be both inherited and acquired by individuals in the course of their lives. Tapu refers to sacredness that was assigned by status at birth. There was a direct relation between the two: chiefs with the most mana were also the most tapu. The English word "taboo" derives from this general Polynesian word and concept of a mysterious superhuman force. Ancestor worship was important in traditional religion. Today, many Maori are Christian (primarily Anglican, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic).
Maoris typically wear modern Western-style clothing. However, they still wear their traditional clothing for special occasions. Traditional Maori clothing was some of the most elaborate in Polynesia. Intricately decorated cloaks were an important item of dress for individuals of high status within Maori society. Tattooing among the Maori was highly developed and extremely symbolic. Maori facial tattoos were created by two methods. One was by piercing and pigmenting the skin with a tattooing comb. The other was by creating permanent grooves in the face with a chisel-like instrument. Male facial tattooing, called ta moko, was done in stages in a male's life through adulthood. Females were also tattooed in Maori society. Female facial tattooing was known as ta ngutu. Designs were placed on the chin and lips. There is a growing revival of this art among younger Maori women nowadays.
--- The End ---
Sources:
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/NewZealandInBrief/Society/en
http://history-nz.org
http://www.maori.org.nz/
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Maori.html
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