Publisher's Synopsis
ForewordThe Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. Maori originated with settlers from eastern Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages between 1250 and 1300. Most archaeologists and historians believe that the Maori people came from the Cook Islands and the Polynesian region. Some scholars believe that the origin of the Maori people and all the South Island languages can be traced back to Taiwan in the western Pacific. The language, culture and traditional architecture of the Maori people are very similar to the Ami people in Taiwan. This provides very clear evidenceOver several centuries in isolation, the Polynesian settlers developed a unique culture, with their own language, a rich mythology, and distinctive crafts and performing arts. Early Maori formed tribal groups based on eastern Polynesian social customs and organisation.Before the arrival of British immigrants at the end of the 18th century, Maori were mainly engaged in agriculture, fishing, hunting and gathering. Now Maori culture is the national culture of New Zealand. It is reflected in tattoos, war dance and folk art. They are good at carving and weaving. Among them, carvings include wood carvings and stone carvings. They are the essence of Maori art.Researchers often label the time from about 1280 to about 1450 the "Moa-hunter period" - after the moa, the large flightless bird that formed a large part of the diet of the early settlers. In the early days, only some islanders went to Otto Rova to find and hunt for Moa birds. They ignited the forest while hunting, so when the Moa birds discovered New Zealand a few hundred years later, the Moa birds have long since disappeared.In 1280, seven canoes came to Otto Rova from the island countries of the South Pacific. This is the first planned islander immigration. During the two hundred years, the Maori lived in the North Island of New Zealand and the South Island.In the fourteenth century, the Maori people living in the South Pacific opened up the history of New Zealand civilization. For centuries they have developed a rigorous tribal system, class system, and highly accomplished artistic representation. Before the arrival of Western civilization, Maori people have always lived in their traditional social form.In addition to the ethnic minorities that have been oppressed or assimilated in many other countries, Maori have more say in New Zealand and their culture is more well preserved. The language of the country is recognized by the laws of New Zealand. Even so, Maori is still at risk of being marginalized by New Zealand's white mainstream society, as less than half of Maori use Maori in their daily lives, and many Maori can do not fluently speak Maori nowadays. Tzemin Ition Tsai
