Māori Society
A quick synopsis of the traditional and modern societies of New Zealand and the Māori.
Traditional Social Structures of the Māori
Traditional Māori societies organized among extended family groups, or tribes. Like other Polynesian peoples, their ancestors reached their home in fleets of large canoes, or waka. In the centuries since, Māori families have traced their lineage from these first settlers. Iwi tribes, sharing a common ancestor, split into smaller hapu villages and pa forts, the heart of Māori societies.
Each hapu, made up of several hundred people, protected its land and natural resources. Rangatira, those who traced their family line to an important ancestor more directly, governed each village. The tohunga class of priests and skilled tradesmen generally came from their ranks. Commoners worked together in extended families called whānau to hunt, fish, farm, and raise children. Below the common people were slaves captured in battle. A person with ancestry in two different hapu could move between them for several generations.
Women and men were both governed by the tapu system. This spiritual and ethical practice held societies together and ensured respect for people, places, and objects of high spiritual concentration. Rulers and holy men, for example, carried high tapu. As a consequence, their contact with common people, foods, and items needed to be limited to protect their mana. Each person understood his or her role within the tapu system and its prohibitions. Violations were met with severe punishment, including death. While men tended to hold formal power, women also occupied respected roles as elders and spiritual leaders.
Modern Māori Societies
New Zealand never unified under a single Māori leader. In 1840, over 500 Māori representatives signed the Treaty of Waitangi, granting sovereignty of their lands to great Britain. While this treaty was entered on relatively equal terms, it was not always applied as such. Differing interpretations of the agreement sparked the New Zealand Wars from 1845 to 1872. These conflicts caused a major setback in relations between the Māori and Pakeha settlers. The hapu social structure declined as more and more people were pushed from their lands and into urban centers.
It was around this time that the Māori began to unite under a common cultural identity. The common myths and terms used today were not universal in past centuries. In order to preserve their common way of life, Māori tribes needed to construct a shared identity as the indigenous people of New Zealand. Māori activists of the 20th century fought in court to restore their rights and claim damages under the treaty. As a result, the Māori family unit is still strong in many areas, both urban and rural. Treaty disputes are typically negotiated by the leaders of iwi families. Modern Māori people tend to be active in both their cultural communities and larger society, though not all identify with an iwi.
References
McLintock, A.H. “1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand.” Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 13 Dec. 2012, teara.govt.nz/en/1966.
McLintock, A. H. “Traditional Social Structure.” Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga, 22 Apr. 2009, teara.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-social-structure/page-2.
Metge, Joan. Rautahi: The Māoris of New Zealand. Routledge. 2004.
Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History. Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris eds. Bridget Williams Books. 2014.
“The World Factbook: New Zealand.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 May 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html.
White, John. The Ancient History of the Māori, Vol. 1. G. Didsbury, 1887.
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