Maori Tribe of Aotearoa

Nicole Mann

(New Zealand)

Material vs. Non-Material

The Maori are a non-material cultureAchievements and success are not measured by material things, but by “mana” which is honor

Americans, however, are quite materialistic

Te Reo Maori

There was a decline and revival of the language between 1950 and 1980, until Maori became an official language of New Zealand along with English and New Zealand Sign LanguageAt first, Maori was the only language spoken in New Zealand as the Maori were dependant on European settlers for supplies The United States has no official language

Top 3 languages are English (82.1%), Spanish (10.7%), and “Other Indo-European” (3.8%)

ManaThe “life-force” within everything on the earthThe Maori inherited mana, but it could also be gained or lost through certain actionsThe Maori wanted to maintain as much mana as possible, especially their chiefsMana influenced how groups and individuals behaved, and also determined achievement and successThe Maori defended their mana and tried to gain it whenever possible

Tapu

Tapu controlled how people acted towards each other and their environmentIt was considered to protect people and nature, and was the most powerful of the Maori valuesMany activities, whether ceremonial or not, were connected to mana and tapuAt first, Tapu meant that lower classes could not touch objects belonging to members of the upper classes, and vice versa

UtuAlthough “Utu” is described as “revenge”, it has a broader meaningUtu is harmony within the Maori society, but how this could harmony could be kept varied widelyThere are different types of utu for different transgressions

Muru- taking one’s personal beloningTaua- A hostile retaliation with different severities

Taua muru- Taking belongings without shedding blood

Taua mate or Taua roto- Seeking death to avenge a death

These punishments depended on the mana of the victim, mana of the offender, severity of the action, and the intent of the action

This value of Maori culture is most like the American Death Penalty system

Religion

The Maori have strong spiritual ties to the land, as they believe that all living things are descended form their godsCertain geographic locations are sacred to the Maori

Such as the Wanganui River, Mount Ngaruahoe, and Mount Ruapehu

Priests of the major deities are called “tohunga ahurewa”In more modern times, most Maori are Presbyterian, Mormon, or Maori ChristianMost Americans are Christian, atheist, or Jewish

Symbols•Although they are considered the messengers of Whiro, the god of evil, lizards in art symbolized protection

•The Pohutukawa tree was said to be the place where spirits leave the world

Norms: FolkwaysIntroductions

The Maori traditionally introduce themselves with the story of how they arrived in New Zealand, starting with their ancestors and coming down to their grandparents, parents, and finally themselvesAmericans can be formal or informal with their greeting based on the occasion, but the Maori always introduce themselves in the same way

FarewellsEveryone gathers together in the whare, with the hosts on one side of the whare and the guests on the other. Everyone speaks, starting with the guests and ending with the hosts. The hosts then make a line at the door and the guests pass by them and leave.As with greetings, American goodbyes can be formal or informal. Depending on the situation, Maori goodbyes can be either formal or informal

A Maori man performing hongi (an informal greeting) with a tourist

Norms: MoresTekoteko

Represents the ancestor for which the whare is named

Koruru

Represents the direct descendant of the ancestor

Maihi

On each side of the Tekoteko, and along with the Raparapa, represent the ancestor’s arms

Amo

Come down from each Maihi, and represent the ancestor’s sides

When one enters a whare, the do not enter a building, but the ‘body’ of an ancestor

Norms: Laws

The Maori people have become a part of the country of New Zealand, so they are subject to the laws of their country

The Maori make up 14.6% of the country’s population

Americans are subject to the laws of their own country, like the Maori

Cultural Traits – Rules of the Whare Hui (Meeting House)

Do not wear shoes inside

Do not smoke inside

Do not eat inside

Do not jump on matresses

Do not hang clothes on pictures

Do not hang clothes on carvings

Do not drink inside

Do not run inside

Do not step over people’s legs, or ask them to move

Do not walk in front of the speaker

Do not throw blankets over others

Do not chew gum

Do not sit on any pillows

TechnologyMost Maori people have assimilated with New Zealanders, so their technology is still modern

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2667840/Te-reo-Maori-comes-to-iPhones

The Haka

Rugby Haka

Leader: “Ringa pakia!

Uma tiraha!

Turi whatia!

Hope whai ake!

Waewae takahia kia kino!”

Leader: “Ka mate, ka mate”

Team: “Ka ora’, ka ora’ ”

Leader: “Ka mate, ka mate”

Team: “Ka ora’, ka ora’ ”

All:

“Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru

Nāna i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā

Upane... Upane

Upane Kaupane

Whiti te rā,!

Hī!”

“Slap the hands against the thighs!

Puff out the chest.

Bend the knees!

Let the hip follow!

Stamp the feet as hard as you can!”

“I die, I die”

“I live, I live”

“I die, I die”

“I live, I live”

“This is the fierce, powerful man

Who caused the sun to shine again for me

Up the ladder, Up the ladder,

Up to the top

The sun shines!

Rise!”

“Ka Mate”

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