Maori+Rise+Research

=**** Maori Research Summary **** =

-larger in size than Britain, closest neighbor is Australia. (Facts about New Zealand) -three main islands: North Island, South Island and Stewart Island (FANZ) -very mountainous, highest peak being Mount Cook, 3764m (FANZ) -network of glaciers add to the mountains, making up great alpine system (FANZ) -volcanic area, peaks Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe (FANZ) -many rivers in New Zealand, varying from short to torrential (FANZ) -largest lake is Taupo, 606 sq km (FANZ) -temperature ranges from subtropical (far north) to continental on South Island (FANZ) -average summer temperature is 21C (FANZ) -Most places in New Zealand receive 60-150cm of rain annually (FANZ) -ideal climate for growing plants(FANZ)
 * __Climate and Geographic Factors:__**

-first person to discover New Zealand was Kupe, a navigator from Polynesia. (New Zealand History, article by James Cowan) -this tribe settled on the North Island around 1350 AD (NZ History) -Hongi Hika (1772-1828), very influential Maori chief, traveled to Britain,helped put Maori language into writing (NZ History) -Te Whiti, great Maori pacifist (http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/conflict/pacifistofparihaka.htm) -In 1769, Captain Cook arrived in New Zealand (NZ History) -Te Rauparaha, chief of Ngati Toa, led many battles (NZ History) -14 May 1840, Te Rauparaha was one of the chiefs to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. (NZ History) -Other fighting chiefs: Te Whero–whero and Tuhawaiki (http://www.crystalinks.com/maori.html)
 * __Important Events and Leaders:__**

-Soon after their arrival, the Maori formed tribes (iwi), and eventually, subtribes (hapu). This system is still in use today. (Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) -typically Polynesian social-political structure, very hierarchical (Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) -culture shaped like pyramid, chief on top, lesser chiefs in the middle and people who aren’t chiefs on the bottom. -positions on pyramid determined by whakapapa or genealogy. -people trace their ancestry back to beginning, through iwi and hapu. (MAORINEWS) -chief (ariki) in group has senior whakapapa (Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) -the basis of Maori social/political life has always been centered around the family (MAORINEWS) -Maori families were usually very large and included many more members than the typical family of today. (Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) -family members worked together, farming, gardening, hunting and fishing.(Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) -largest political unit in Maori culture: waka confederation, an amalgamation of tribes connected through genealogy. (www.piccom.org) -waka can be up to 500 people (Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) -these confederations did not operate within daily life, but only for more important political situations.(Encyclopaedia of New Zealand)
 * __Social-Political Structure__**

-Maori first made weapons out of obsidian, and from about 1,000 years ago, greenstone. -Archaic period, no known Maori warfare due to small population and enough food for everybody. -When more people arrived from Polynesia, the Maoris were introduced to the short club (wood, bone or stone) and the long-handled club -the mere, or greenstone club, was highly prized. Prisoners could actually request to be killed with it. -for transportation, walking or using watercraft on rivers or lakes was common.
 * __Transportation and Weaponry__** all info from (http://www.maorisource.com/MaoriWeapons.html)

-Maori music described by early European explorers as “dreary monotones” (MAORI INFO) -large number of waiata (songs), traditional ones are either sad (waiata tangi) or love songs (waiata aroha)(MAORI INFO) -very limited singing ranges, small intervals between notes.(MAORI INFO) -the Maori didn’t use drums, instead rhythm was created using the stomping of feet, the slapping of chest and thighs with the hands and occasionally, the use of a stick on a piece of wood.(MAORI INFO) -Maori artists of today are adopting the old customs of the pre-European Maori artists.( TE KAHUI O MATARIKI) -no written history until the arrival of the Europeans, orally rich culture. -history and myths past down by word of mouth
 * __Art, Literature and Music__**

-Main Maori art form is carving, evolved from Polynesian carving patterns (TE KAHUI O MATARIKI) -Most found figures in Maori carving are the human figure and the manaia, a bird-like figure (MAORI INFO) -Traditional carvings coloured with red ochre mixed with shark oil.(MAORI INFO) -Preferred wood for carving was totara, a soft, durable wood.(MAORI INFO) -Abalone shell used to depict eyes (MAORI INFO) -Carving was used to decorate canoes, boxes, paddles, gateways and musical instruments.(MAORI INFO) -Instruments: flutes, trumpets, all carved out of stone, whalebone, wood and even human bones. (MAORI INFO) -carvings stored in peat soils to preserve and hide them from enemies. (NZ Gov.)
 * __Industrial and Artistic Technology__**