A maori-story-teller

[Kindee]

Kia Ora Kotou

As late as I am to post a comment to this discussion, it deeply saddens me that so much incorrect information has been given to people who wont be aware that it is not right. Firstly Maui fished up the North Island of New Zealand, that is why the Maori word for the North Island is "Te ika a Maui" (meaning the fish of Maui). The South Island is called "Te Wai Pounamu" (meaning the greenstone waters). People being "full blooded Maori" or not is irrelevant to people living within the tikanga (valuses, customs, meanings etc) of Maori. In fact a large number of Kai Tahu (The dialect of Ngai Tahu replaces the "ng in some words with "k", eg Kainga becomes Kika) look pakeha, however, they follow the kawa (protocol) and tiknaga of their Maori ancestors of the iwi they are decendent from. There are probably people who can say they are full blooded any ethnic group, but they may follow the culture and values of the country they live in, which may be a different country to the ethnic group they are of. I guess you could say it becomes an issue of cultural practice?!
About the declaration of independence, this sounds like it has been confused with Te Tiriti O Waitangi (The Treaty Of Waitangi). They are seperate documents which have seperate meanings. The declaration of indepedence was signed in 1835 by a number of North Island chiefs (not all Maori chiefs), this document was recognised by the British Crown, so in effect the British acknowledged the soverignty of New Zealand as belonging to Maori through the declaration of Independence.
Te Tiriti O Waitangi was recognising the soverignty of Maori by approaching the Maori to agree to a treaty. However, the issue with the treaty is that there was a Maori written one and an English written one. They are not the same in interpretation. The English one states that the Maori give up sovreignty to New Zealand to the crown. The Maori version does not state this, but acknowledges the Maori give up governership. They are different and they are the issue of today. Now I cannot tell you if the difference was deliberate or intended to misinform Maori. I believe that Pakeha came in good faith to the Treay, however, at the time the Maori version was emphasised to the chiefs who signed agreement to the treay, it of course tells them they gave up governership, not soverignty, and there lies the reason why Te Tiriti O Waitangi, now that has regained legal standing, is beginning to readress wrongs of the past.
My apologies for any spelling mistakes here by the way, it's not my strongest point!

[Errol]

The story that the last fullblood Maori died in the 80s has always fascinated me. Like the "previous tribe" theory (Moriori, Maruiwi ..) I can see why it's popular - it reinforces beliefs that some people hold dear. (That doesn't apply to everyone who beleives those things of course! ) And people are always keen to believe a story that reinforces something they want to hear. (Just look at the hot-cross-bun/kindergarten story of a couple of years ago.)

I know where the Maruiwi myth came from (S Percy Smith in the late 1800s talking to a kaumatua in the Wairarapa) - but where does the "last fullblood" Maori story come from?

Did the story just appear spontaneously - "a bloke in the pub told me that he met someone while hitching who told him that his brother read a letter to the editor saying that another bloke had heard a rumour that ..." Or did someone start the story like a kind of low-tech computer virus - like that maestro who started the story that plastic bottles would stop dogs pissing on your lawn?

Like the previous poster says, quibbles about genetic purity are completely meaningless to whether or not you're a Maori. But, for the record, Statistics NZ says there are many thousands of Maori alive and well who do not have Pakeha ancestry.

[Kimba]

ther is a really good site to learn about maori things, language and legends such as the legend of Rahi, Maui and Kupe , just go to search and put in the name you want. the legends give out really good info more than just astory .try http://www.maori.org.nz/forum/search.asp? good hunting and farewell my friend

[Pau]

Hi! I´m Paula, and I´m from Argentina. I´ve enjoyed it very much reading your messages. I´ve been in NZ for 3 weeks last summer and it was one of the best things I´ve ever lived. I do not know any other place but the US, Mexico and Argentina, but I´m sure nowhere´s gonna be more amazing than Aotearoa.

The culture was the thing I enjoyed the most. I have some books, and I´m getting some kind of a fan of Maori culture. Anytime I have free time on the Internet I surf on these sites.

Like to be a member of your club. Please answer!

Keeping in touch,

Pau

[gwtrainer]

Hi All,

My wife and I are hopefully about to move to Aotearoa to embark on a new career. This discussion has really peaked my interest in the Maori culture. My ethnicity is African-American/ Native American. I'm not too sure how much others around the world know about the history of the U.S., but it is in some ways similar to that of NZ. On the one hand, my African heritage is very much lost... The only definitive things that I know is that 1. we were kidnapped from our land and brought here as slaves and 2. We were freed by Abe Lincoln in a war that tore the nation in two. NOT A VERY DELIGHTFUL PAST. As far as my Native American roots, our society was devoured by the cultures that took over our land. Our language and society lost and shunned by those that took over. Today, we are scattered to the winds with only scant patches where our culture is struggling to survive. My culture is lost. I know nothing of my past other than that I read in books. I have never heard the tongue of my people nor reveled in the pride of my past. There are none for thousands of miles that can give me an insight into what it means to stand as a proud Cherokee warrior... regardless...
I have spent the last month reading about NZ and the people of the Maori culture. To see the images and hear the voices of that strong culture has awakened a yearning within me. I so wish that I had those around me to teach and guide me in the ways of my past.
I have on countless occasions wondered how I will be viewed when going to NZ. Here there is overt racism and I have lived all my life with people looking down on me. I truly hope that my children will grow up in a society that views them by there accomplishments and character other than color of skin.
I know this is AWFULLY LONG. This has really lit a fire under me to see a place that embraces the culture of its native peoples (other than oppressing them). Does anyone have a comment?