Identification. The Maori are the indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand. Culturally, they are Polynesians, most closely related to eastern Polynesians. After contact with Europeans, the people now known as the Maori began using the term tangata aori, meaning usual or ordinary people.
Location. The Maori were originally settled in the northern parts of North Island, New Zealand. South Island was not so popular until later.
Demography. When Captain Cook visited New Zealand in 1769 the indigenous population was probably between 200,000 and 250,000. The population declined after contact with Europeans, but it began to recover at the beginning of this century and now approaches 300,000.
No comments:
Post a Comment