Traditions And Customs
from all over the world by Mislav Popovic
Maori
The Maori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand. According to the latest data there are about 600,000 Maori people. They make 14% of total population in New Zealand. As for better climate most of Maori people live on the North Island. The Maori language or Te Reo belongs to Polynesian languages. Its alphabet has 15 letters - h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w, a, e, i, o, u, wh and ng.
There is a Maori legend saying that they arrived in Aotearoa from their homeland "Hawaiki" about 1,000 years ago. Aoteroa or "Land of the long white cloud" is the Maori name for New Zealand. Nobody is really sure where the Hawaiki is. There is an opinion claiming that Maori are actually from China. According to this theory they gradually travelled via Taiwan to the Philippines, Indonesia etc. The final stage of their migration was from Cook Island to Aotearoa (New Zealand). They arrived sometime between the 9th and 13th century AD. The first European who met Maori was the 17th century Dutch explorer Abel Tasman (1603-1659).
Maori dancers
Before the arrival of the Pakeha (White Man) elements of Maori culture, like legends and waiata (songs), were transferred orally from generation to generation. Probably the most famous Maori tradition is the Haka dance.
The Haka dance became popular through New Zealand rugby team, better known as the All Blacks. The All Blacks Haka includes loud chanting, fierce facial expressions, agressive arm movements and foot stamping.
Haka dance by the All Blacks rugby team
All Blacks usually perform the most popular Haka of all called "Ka Mate." This haka was composed by Te Rauparaha, war chief of the Ngāti Toa tribe of the North Island. It has to be said that since 2005 All Blacks sometimes perform another type of Haka which is called "Kapa o Pango." Here are the words of Haka performed by All Blacks.
Ka mate Ka mate (It is death It is death)
Ka ora Ka ora (It is life It is life)
Ka mate Ka mate (It is death It is death)
Ka ora Ka ora (It is life It is life)
Tenei Te Tangata Puhuruhuru (This is the hairy man)
Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra (Who caused the sun to shine again for me)
Upane Upane (Up the ladder Up the ladder)
Upane Kaupane (Up to the top)
Whiti te ra (The sun shines)!
The Haka can be performed by both men and women. There are also simple versions for children. It is not only a war dance, like many people think.The Haka is danced on different occasions. It maybe an arrival of someone famous or any other important event in certain community.
Tā moko Maori tattoo
Tā moko is a traditional tattoo of the Maori. Men have tattoos on their faces, buttocks ("raperape"), thighs ("puhoro"), backs, stomachs and calves . Women have tattoos on their lips ("kauae"), chins, foreheads, buttocks, thighs, neck and backs.