New Zealand is a land of mystery. While many have heard of the country's native tribe, the Maori, few have any concept of who they are and what they're like. Archaeologists believe that the Maori traveled via a fleet of sea-faring canoes to New Zealand, a group of islands known for their mountainous terrain, located in the South Pacific. This sojourn is estimated to have taken place in the 14th century, although some believe the Maori relocated as early as A.D. 1150 [source: PBS.org: Adventure Divas]. Polynesian by descent, they came from the mythical land of Hawaiki, believed by many experts to be a combination of places, including Tahiti, Samoa and the Cook Islands. Upon arriving in New Zealand, the Maori dubbed the picturesque land Aotearoa, or "land of the long white cloud."
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Maori Waka get ready for Waitangi Day on Te Ti Bay in New Zealand. The Maori traveled by sea canoes to New Zealand from a mythical island named Hawaiki. See more
New Zealand pictures.
When the Maori, which means "ordinary or common," arrived in New Zealand in the 14th century, they only had to contend with their own internal factions. The various Maori tribes were anything but gentle, and were known as fierce warriors and cannibals. In fact, a common post-battle trophy of sorts involved the display of the severed head of the enemy. Almost from the very beginning, the tribes battled each other for land, resources and mana, meaning "power or prestige." Battles were also fought between tribes to avenge a particularly scathing insult. Usually, these wars were conducted in the fall, after the spring and summer harvest had been collected and stored for winter. Typically, early Maori combat featured hand weapons like wakaika (short-range battle clubs) and patu (hand clubs with sharp edges for striking), and resulted in few deaths, despite the viciousness of the battles. Victorious tribes won land, food and other trophies. Losers often were forced to relocate to less fertile and populated lands.
The Maori were tough, but eventually they found themselves contending with foreign settlers landing on their shores. What happened next? Find out on the next page.
