Māori communities are thriving as they continue to navigate the complexities of preserving their heritage, whilst striving for equity and adapting to modern challenges.
Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, arrived here more than 800 years ago in great waka (double-hulled canoes) from Polynesia. Over the centuries, they’ve developed their own traditions and culture, deeply rooted in respect for nature, community, and their kaumātua (elders).
These traditional beliefs and practices have contributed to the Māori people’s resilience and continue to shape their lives today. They are also fundamental to the New Zealand way of life, influencing everything from cultural values and language to public policy.
Māori communities are experiencing significant change, marked by the revival of traditional practices and the establishment of new institutions to preserve and promote Māori culture. This includes the increasing use of the Māori language, the strengthening of tribal structures and councils, capitalising on tribally owned assets, and establishing Māori media and broadcasting outlets.
To experience Māori culture, you don’t have to go to a museum or watch a traditional Māori performance. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori customs are woven into everyday life, from the use of the Māori language to the warm welcome of the Māori people. Here are some of the main ways you’ll encounter this incredible culture.
Recent census figures show the number of Māori has surpassed one million people, which means one in five New Zealanders is now of Māori descent. This is a significant milestone for Māori, whose population plummeted to 42,000 in the 1890s. European settlement in the nineteenth century had a devastating impact on Māori. Not only did they succumb to introduced diseases, but poverty, loss of land, and social fragmentation significantly reduced life expectancy.
Today, most Māori live in cities, with a quarter residing in Auckland, the country’s biggest city. Māori are also integrated with other cultural and ethnic groups, and intermarriage is common.
Before European settlement, Māori society was organised in iwi (tribes), each comprising several hapū (clans) that occupied specific tribal territories. Māori continue to maintain strong connections to their iwi and marae (traditional meeting places). Iwi play a significant role in New Zealand’s political and economic landscape, with iwi-owned businesses making a substantial contribution to the country’s economic growth. Uniquely, these businesses use their profits to fund community and environmental initiatives.
Traditional Māori religion is polytheistic, with a pantheon of gods (atua) who inhabit the natural world. These gods embody spiritual concepts that are central to Māori culture, including mana (prestige) and tapu (sacredness). Since colonisation, Māori spirituality and religion have evolved significantly over time, blending traditional beliefs with introduced religions, particularly Christianity. Today, more than half of Māori do not practice any religion.
The Māori language is a cornerstone of Māori identity and culture. Known as te reo Māori(opens in new window), it is one of New Zealand’s official languages, along with English and New Zealand Sign Language. Almost a quarter of Māori speak te reo as a first language.
You will often see written information presented in both Māori and English. New Zealand’s national anthem is also sung in both Māori and English.
The use of Māori words and phrases is increasingly common in everyday spoken English, particularly in greetings and place-names.
Sometimes Māori and English place-names are used together. For example, you will often hear people refer to this country as 'Aotearoa New Zealand,' which is a combination of Māori and English names.
Māori broadcasting channels, including Whakaata Māori (Māori Television)(opens in new window), Te Reo Channel(opens in new window), and Iwi Radio Stations, were established to help preserve Māori language and culture. Today, these channels are part of the mainstream media, producing high-quality content that resonates with both Māori and non-Māori audiences. Māori influencers are also making an impact on social media, sharing language and culture across popular platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Students can opt to attend Kura Kaupapa Māori primary and secondary schools, where the curriculum is taught in the Māori language. There are also three Wānanga, which are institutions of higher learning offering degrees and vocational training with a focus on Māori knowledge.
The All Blacks(opens in new window), Aotearoa New Zealand’s national rugby team, begins each test match with haka, a traditional Māori performance. This has been part of their routine for almost 120 years, helping them to establish one of the greatest victory statistics in global sport.
Māori artists are making waves in local and international art scenes with works inspired by Māori culture. Notable figures like Cliff Whiting, Sandy Adsett, and Sir Derek Lardelli blend traditional Māori arts and crafts with contemporary artistic practices, while Shane Cotton, Lisa Reihana, and Michael Parekowhai explore themes of identity, colonisation, and marginalisation from an indigenous perspective.
Māori are also making an impact on the international stage. Some names you might recognise are Taika Waititi(opens in new window), a film director best known for ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit’; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa(opens in new window), one of the world’s most famous sopranos; and Lisa Carrington(opens in new window), New Zealand's most successful Olympian. But there are plenty more, covering the spectrum of activism, science, academia, film, arts, sports, and more.
Despite cultural gains, Māori still face disparities in health, education, and income compared to other New Zealanders. This is a legacy of colonisation, which had a profound impact on the Māori people. Loss of ancestral lands and the disruption of cultural and economic practices led to social fragmentation and poverty for many Māori. Efforts continue to address these inequalities through various social and economic programmes.
The first Māori members of parliament (MPs) took their seats in 1868. Since then, Māori MPs have shaped New Zealand’s political discourse, advocating for issues affecting Māori communities and ensuring Māori perspectives are included in national decision-making.
In the current 54th parliament, there are a record number of Māori MPs, with 33 members of Māori descent across all six major political parties. These MPs are elected from both general and Māori electorates, as well as through party lists.
People of Māori descent can choose to be on the Māori electoral roll or the general electoral roll for general elections. Those on the Māori roll vote for candidates in the Māori electorate, as well as candidates on the general electoral roll. The Māori roll also helps determine the number of Māori and general electorates.