History of New Zealand (Maori) Pre-Assessment

Who were the indigenous people of New Zealand?

• Aboriginal Peoples

• Native Zealanders

• Maori

• Pacific Islanders

Which of the following statements below best fits a general description of the Maori?

• The Maori were one of many original groups to New Zealand. When they arrived there were many large flightless birds which later went extinct because of extensive hunting. The Maori were farmers for the most part, but they depended on fish as well.

• The Maori were the indigenous people of New Zealand. When they first arrived in New Zealand they shared a culture with a very similar language. As time passed, the Maori split into small groups that were quite different from one another. They no longer spoke the same language, and were constantly at war with one another. By the time Europeans arrived there were thousands of different Maori groups of people who no longer shared the name Maori.

• The Maori were the first people to arrive in New Zealand. They share a strong culture which is famous for Tikanga and the Kapa Haka. These people split into groups that would go to war with one another. They were strong sailors, and many groups depended on the sea around them.

• The Maori were a seafaring people, and their society focused on sailing and fishing. These people split into large kingdoms towards the beginning of their arrival. When Europeans arrived in the 18th century they were welcomed by leaders of these kingdoms.

Which of the following best describes the structure of Maori society?

• Maori society was split up into three different sized groups and three different ranks. At the smallest social level is the Whanau group which is made up of the extended family. The Hapu is the group of clans that were protected land and supported members. The Iwi were the collection of Hapus that worked together on larger regional issues.

• Maori society was split into five major regional kingdoms run by Rangatiras. The Tatua farmed, hunted, and gathered to support the leaders, and participated in Hapus in times of war. The Mokai were used by the leaders to run the government and police the Whanua.

• Maori society was split into two major groups. The Iwi was the major group of North Island and focused primarily on hunting and gathering. The Hapu was the major group of South Island which focused on agriculture. Both would form Whanuas to gith one another in times of war.

• Maori society was made up of one major group throughout New Zealand. The Rangatira ran different "provinces" who were farmed by the Mokai. The Tatua were commoners that participated in customary Maori cultural practices like weaving, tattooing, and carving.

What is an Iwi?

• A Maori "tribe"; the largest social feature of Maori society.

• Extended families whose members all claim a common ancestry.

• Traditional Maori art form combining music, dance, singing and facial expressions.

• Leaders of Maori society.

What is a Tatua?

• Maori clans made up of hundreds of members; a collection of extended families that protected land and provided support for its members.

• Leaders of Maori society.

• The commoners (average person) in Maori society.

• Traditional Maori tattooing which uses symbols and patterns to show the identity of a person.

What is Whanau?

• Maori tribe; Largest social feature of Maori society.

• Extended families whose members all claim a common ancestry.

• Traditional Maori customs and traditions passed down through generations

• Maori clans made up of hundreds of members; a collection of extended families that protected land and provided support for its members.

Which of the following best describes Maori customs and rituals?

• The Maori have what they call Tikanaga which is their collection of customs, traditions, and stories. They have a many different customs and traditions which include the art form Kapa Haka, and a traditional tattooing practice called Ta Moko.

• The Maori have extremely different customs and rituals based on where they are located. Those on North Island were focused on identity with Ta Moko. Those on the South Island practiced weaving but did not have Kapa Haka or anything like it.

• The Maori had many different customs and ritual which were shared by all Iwi. The only feature of Tikanga they didn't share was their language. The South Island Iwi spoke Te Reo, and the North Island Iwi spoke Kapa Haka.

• The Maori culture was much like the Aboriginals Peoples of Australia. They had many different cultural groups, elders that lead them, and hundreds of different languages.

What is a Kapa Haka?

• Traditional Maori customs and traditions passed down through generations

• The commoners (average person) in Maori society.

• Traditional Maori art form combining music, dance, singing and facial expressions.

• Leaders of Maori society.

Which of the following best explains the purpose of a Kapa Haka?

• Kapa Hakas were meant to welcome a friend into a Hapu. These were meant to show the guest the Hapu's generosity.

• Kapa Hakas were meant to show status in a Hapu. The Rangatira would perform this in front of the Tutua and Mokai to show their wealth and their power.

• Kapa Hakas were used for various reasons. They could have been used to welcome guests, intimidate an enemy before war, or even pay respect to the dead.

• Kapa Hakas were used before Iwi supporting events. Different Iwis would have athletes from their different Hapus, create new Kapa Hakas, and perform before their games with other Iwis.

Which of the following best describes creation stories in Maori culture?

• Creation stories were incredibly different depending on the Hapu which believed it.

• Creation stories were different based on which island the Hapu was on. The North Island Hapus and the South Island Hapus believed different creation stories. This was due to the different geographies that affected the people living there.

• Creation stories were the same between all Hapus. They were so similar that there were traveling Mokai that would travel around New Zealand teaching Hapu children about the creation of the world.

• Creation stories were somewhat different depending on the Hapu, but there were common themes that can be seen in the different creation stories. For example, most have some story that begins with separating the earth and sky.