Native Māori Culture in New Zealand - Learning about our heritage

The first Māori settlers in New Zealand arrived aboard several Waka (canoes) from the Hawaiki island, in French Polynesia about 1000 years ago.

Aroha: 

Aroha is often translated as 'Love', but because English is one of the youngest languages and has developed throughout an unusual period in history that focuses almost entirely on what is perceptible by the five senses (the senses of intellect and ego), the scope of the word Aroha requires an exploration, not a translation.

The whole meaning of the word does not exist in an equivalent English word. The root word "Aro" has many meanings, but the Williams Māori dictionary (1st edition 1844,  6th edition 1957) gives one as "Mind, the seat of feelings", and "Ha" is defined as "breath", and in Māori, this refers to the breath of life.  Aroha is the creative force that comes from the spirit. Aroha, as an operational principle, presumes the universe to be abundant, with more opportunities than there are people. Social interaction seeks the best in people and draws it out, yet it is firm in not accepting aggression, greed, recycled ignorance, or other damaging behaviours. Aroha, in action, is generous.  Aroha, in group meetings, seeks unity and balance. Aroha, in practice, is intelligent, a unified intelligence of the heart, soul, and mind. Aroha is universal and known by people of all cultures. However, with the distractions of life, people can lose connection with aroha. 

Business and Iwi (tribal) wealth

Iwi trusts are developing into big businesses. They are growing their investment assets at a 50 per cent faster rate than community trusts. 
Example: NGAI Tahu’s economic growth reflects the general expansion of Māori enterprises and the Māori asset base, estimated to reach more than $ 48 billion by 2022. Iwi investment can be seen as adding solidity to an economy that is otherwise subject to unpredictable international flows of capital. 

Numbers
In 2023, Māori comprised approximately 875,300 (17.1) of New Zealand’s population. 

Location
Today, the Māori people are more diverse and dispersed than at any other time in their history. Some continued to live in their traditional tribal areas. Most, however, lived elsewhere, usually in urban centres. In 2001, 64% of Māori lived in the main urban areas and only 16% in rural areas. Many also lived in other countries, with over 70,000 in Australia and up to 10,000 in Britain.

Language
The Māori language is the official language of New Zealand and has undergone a revival in recent years. However, it is still threatened and, according to the 2001 census results, was spoken by only one in four Māori. Approximately 30,000 non-Māori could speak the language.

Culture
Māori culture is going through enormous change with the establishment of new institutions and organisations. These include: 

• The rearrangement and strengthening of tribal structures and councils.
• The recapitalisation of tribally owned assets.
• The establishment of over 20 Māori radio stations and a television channel.
• Political representation, with 16 MPs of Māori background in Parliament in 2004.
• The creation of institutions where teaching and learning are substantially conducted in the Māori language. In 2001, there were over 500 kōhanga reo (language nests), teaching over 10,000 preschool children; over 50 Kura kaupapa Māori (teaching schoolchildren in complete Māori-language immersion programmes); and three whare wānanga (tertiary institutes).

Prominent people
In the early 2000s, several Māori individuals were regarded as prominent national figures or had international reputations in their chosen fields. Among them were the opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, film director Lee Tamahori, child actor Keisha Castle-Hughes, golfer Michael Campbell, artist Ralph Hotere, and writers Patricia Grace and Witi Ihimaera.

Traditions and culture:

• Māori nationality did not exist before the arrival of Europeans; they referred to themselves by tribal affiliations.
• Māori developed a robust social structure based on tribal and family association and have their mythology and religion.
• Māori have always had a deep attachment to the land, culture, and traditions, which have and still are creating the unique nature of New Zealand.
• Many Māori treasure their language, art, and culture, and there is a cultural revival.
• Cultures have different perspectives of time. The Western corporate perspective has a minimal view of time, focusing on the development of the present and only a short time into the future, usually their lifetime. Māori have a much broader view of time, encompassing past, present, and future in the decision-making process.
• Māori believe there are two worlds: Te Kauwae Raro, the seen world, where we live, and Te Kauwae Runga, the unseen world, where our ancestors and the gods live.
• The warrior spirit gained the Māori a fearsome reputation and is one of the reasons why they have been prominent in almost every sport played in NZ.
• The haka, a traditional challenge performed before the battle, is now often performed before sporting games.
• The Māori culture retains a prominent role in New Zealand, and since 1987, Māori has been an official language, alongside English.
• The traditional meeting house of the Māori, the Marae, still plays a vital role in social, political, and ceremonial activities.
• Tangata Whenua (people of the land) customs and traditions interest visitors. Through Tangata Whenua's support for tourism, customs will be observed but not disrupted.