People native to New Zealand often associate the word Māoritanga with their culture. Not surprisingly, this word actually means being like the Māori people or Māoriness. Let us now witness a Māori way of life that evolved sans 'civilized' influences. **Click the images for an enlarged view.** Māori lineage is described using the term Whakapapa, which means to place one's antecedents layer-wise, one upon another in proper order of genealogy, starting from the first. The Māori community is said to have its roots on the islands of Polynesia. By nature, Māori ancestors were excellent at navigation, seafaring and astronomy. The first Māori are believed to have arrived in New Zealand in their traditional waka (canoes) around 14th century AD from an island called Hawaiki, presumably near Hawaii in Polynesia. Some of the most famous wakas or canoes that arrived were the Arawa, the Tainui and the Mataatua. Interestingly, the term waka also means a tribe in Māori language. This might have been on account of separation of members of each waka or canoe into separate iwi (tribes). Members of each tribe set up their new homes in the areas where their canoes landed. As per research, some of the earliest Māori settlements can be traced back to South Island of New Zealand. Each iwi was further divided into hapu (smaller clans). Members of these clans were treated as extended family. Members of each hapu were encouraged to pick their life partners from within their own clan. Each member of a particular tribe shared a common ancestry and exhibited loyalty to their respective chieftains. Soon, they named their new land as Aotearoa (Māori name for New Zealand) meaning the 'land of long white cloud'. Although the original Māori culture had a stark Malayo-polynesian influence, it gradually underwent a change as the community adapted to the natural and climatic conditions of New Zealand. Food Traditional Māori food is known as kai and is cooked in a natural earthen oven called hāngi. Basically, it is a shallow space dug in the ground. A fire is lit, on which stones are placed and heated. When the stones get really hot, marinated meat and vegetables are placed on them. The food is then covered with wet sacks. This ensures that sufficient heat gets trapped in the hāngi and food gets cooked. This slow cooking process is popular to this day. Traditional diet prominently consisted of sea-food, fowl meat, wild herbs, potato/sweet potato breads, manuka honey, and dried algae. Greeting Style Māori people greet each other by a traditional way called hongi (exchanging breath of life). This is done by touching each other with one another's foreheads and noses, respectively. Traditionally, the Māori believe that all things, alive or inanimate, are connected by common descent to gods who resided in mountains, rivers and lakes. Probably due to this belief, the Māori community had strong ties with nature and land, in particular. They also believed that everything possessed a mauri (lifeforce) and wairua (spirit). The terms mana and tapu were often used to describe spiritual essence present in all people or things, again derived from gods and corresponding social code for appropriate behavior, with regards to maintaining sanctity. Disregarding the rules/restrictions of tapu implied disobedience to the gods, which could invite punishment. The degree of mana and tapu in things or in people varied, depending on social rank, spiritual powers, etc. and consequently made its possessor holy or unchaste. Most of the Māori ceremonies take place in accordance with protocols called tikanga. Certain kawa (customs) might vary according to an iwi. The word tikanga is used to describe the Māori customs and traditions which have been passed to each generation for centuries. Māori people believe that their past is in front of them in order to guide them. On the other hand, the future is said to be behind, because nobody can see it. Language Today, the Māori language or te reo Māori is one of the official languages of New Zealand. It has its own North island and South island dialects. A lot of original Māori words have now been absorbed in New Zealand English language, for instance, kiwi (an exotic bird or kiwi fruit) and kea (a parrot species). Most of the Māori culture, stories and legends have been passed down orally from one generation to another through speeches. These are considered to be important cultural possessions. A set of proverbial sayings, called whakataukī, is quite popular in Māori community. Music Traditional Māori music or Te Pūoro Māori involved songs that were sung as solos, duets or in unison. Vocal songs or waiata were often accompanied by music played on traditional musical instruments such as flutes, bull-roarers and trumpets created from wood. Māori music has gradually undergone a change on account of influences from western music. Today, efforts are being made to revive the traditional Māori music. By mid-20th century, a careful study of the treaty revealed a stark variation in English and Māori versions of its articles. The Māori interpret the contents of this treaty as granting of temporary rights to the British for using their land. It is also claimed that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in order to allow the British to govern New Zealand in exchange of general protection of Māori land. Therefore, a tragic history of Māori community includes years of legal battles against the British government and European settlers for getting back their ancestral land. Their battle for return of 'unjustly taken' Māori land is still on. A stark discrimination between Māori and non-Māori population of New Zealand became more pronounced in the 2001 census. As a result, the Māori community is striving to achieve an equal social standing. Their greatest concern now is ensuring that right support is provided in terms of education and health care, to ensure their success in society. Widespread racial discrimination is another cause for distress among the Māori community. In spite of this, huge consistent efforts are being made to preserve and revive Māori traditions.