Upon arrival, they found dense forests and long coastlines. There was also a huge variation in landscapes and climate.
In fact, New Zealand is bigger than the all the remaining Polynesian Islands put together. New Zealand was not only colder, but also much bigger in area than any other South Pacific island they encountered. When the Maori arrived in Aotearoa they were confronted with a land quite different to tropical Polynesia. The gave the name Aotearoa to this land whichy tranlsated means, 'The Land of the Long White Cloud'. Originating in China, then on to Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Melanesia, Fiji, Samoa, the Marquesas, then south-west to Tahiti, the Cook Islands, and finally arriving in New Zealand about 1000 years ago. The most accepted theory suggests that the Maori migrated to New Zealand over a long period of time. Some speculate that the island of Hawaiki could be near Hawaii. Their own legends say that the Maori came from "Hawaiki", the legendary homeland. There are a number of theories about the origins of the Maori. Today, some of the treaty's provisions are used in disputes over confiscated land that took place resulting in return of land and/or a financial payout. This treaty established British rule of New Zealand and granted the Maori, British citizenship, while also recognising Maori land rights. In 1840 representatives of Britain and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi. After these wars and the death toll due to disease, the Maori population dropped to a low 100,000 persons or thereabouts. These wars were initially fought between British troops and Māori warriors followed by a New Zealand government military force, including local militia, rifle volunteer groups, and Forest Rangers. After the Musket Wars there was a period of relative peace until 1845 when the New Zealand Wars broke out due to land disputes which lasted till 1872. Maori also attacked another indigenous people called the Moriori which all but wiped them out. This included around 500 battles where Maori tribes fought each other resulting in heavy tolls on each tribe. The Musket WarsĪ greater threat to Maori however were their own tribal conflicts called the Musket Wars which raged between 1807–1842. Ships to New Zealand became frequent which inflicted a heavy death toll by disease on Maori. In 1769 British explorer JamesĬook established friendly relations with some Maori. Four members of his crew were killed in a bloody encounter in 1642. European Contactĭutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to encounter the Maori. The Maori migrated to New Zealand from elsewhere in Polynesia around the 9th century to 13th century AD. Language which is related to Tahitian and Hawaiian. They are Polynesian and make up around 15 percent of the country's population. The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand.
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