maori

The Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, or New Zealand. They arrived in waves from eastern Polynesia beginning around the 12th to 14th centuries, developing distinct iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) across the country. Their genealogies, or whakapapa, connect people to ancestors and to the land.

Their language Te Reo Māori is part of the Eastern Polynesian branch of the Polynesian language family and has several dialects. Te Reo Māori has undergone a revival since the late 20th century and was recognized as an official language of New Zealand in 1987. Traditional arts include carving (whakairo), weaving (raranga), and tā moko (facial tattoo) is iconic. Performances such as waiata (songs) and haka (dance) are well known, and the Māori world includes concepts such as mana (prestige), tapu/noa (sacred/profane), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment).

Social organization historically centers on iwi and hapū, with whānau (families) as the basic units. In modern times, Māori participate in politics, education, and business, while maintaining customary practices and governance structures. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, is the founding document; grievances have been addressed through the Waitangi Tribunal established in 1975.

Demographics and distribution: In New Zealand, Māori comprise about 16.5 percent of the population according to the 2018 census. Māori communities also exist in Australia and other countries through migration and diaspora networks.