The Māori culture is an important part of New Zealand’s history and present day society.
1. Māori people greet each other by pressing their forehead and noses.
Once you meet Māori, forget about handshakes or hugs. Greeting for Māori is extremely intimate. This cultural aspect allows Māori to unite souls by giving the “breath of life.”
2. Traditionally Māori people cook their food underground.
When you visit New Zealand make sure you try the traditional Māori food called “Hangi”. This meal is a combination of raw meat and vegetables which is cooked by heated rocks buried in a pit oven. A bowl of Hangi is placed in the stones with the large fire and the covered with earth until it’s fully cooked.
3. Māori are the greatest storytellers.
Māori people are known as the greatest storytellers because they didn’t have written language until colonisation in the 1800’s. Their language existed and evolved for centuries and was passed down orally by songs and stories.
4. Māori people can tell a social status through a person’s tattoo.
Every single Māori tattoo is distinctive. Tattoos were used as communicating symbols between tribes to identify a person’s family history, social status, and affiliation. The tattoos were filed using ‘Ta Moko’ which is a traditional tattoo making process that was inserted into the skin using shark’s teeth. Even today this skill is still practised, and some tribal members of great heritage will have moko on their chin and face.
5. Music and dance is very important to Māori.
Their stories and heritage are expressed through the performing arts as well as visually in the beautiful Kowhaiwhai and tukutuku patterns and whakairo (carvings) that adorn the Whare-nui the meeting house.
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