Level: U
DRA: 44
Social Studies
Strategy:
Visualize
Word Count: 1,172
6.2.9 Build Vocabulary
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Online Leveled Books
1033026
H O UG H T O N M IF F L IN
by Chris Wilson
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS: 4 Joe LeMonnier / Melissa Turk
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Table of Contents
The Coming of the Maori. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Maori’s New Zealand Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Village Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Daily Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Maori Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Coming of the Pakeha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Modern Maori Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
What the Future Holds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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The Coming of the Maori
How was New Zealand settled? Most experts
think that the first settlers — the Maori (MOW ree)
— came from other Pacific islands. But some experts
disagree. They think that the Maori came from
South America.
Experts are also trying to figure out what made
the Maori venture to New Zealand. Was it to escape
a war? A famine? We may never learn the answers to
these questions.
But the experts do agree on one thing. All agree
that the Maori made dangerous voyages across the
Pacific Ocean. They paddled in long canoes.
They used the sun, stars, and moon to navigate.
The consequences of their journey still influence
New Zealand today.
The Maori made long
ocean trips to reach
New Zealand.
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Maori Migration
In New Zealand, the Maori
found a varied landscape.
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The Maori’s New Zealand Home
New Zealand today is an island nation. It includes
two main islands, the North Island and the South
Island. Most Maori settled on the North Island. It has
a warmer climate than the South Island. Some Maori
went to the South Island, too. But it was more sparsely
settled.
In New Zealand, the Maori found a new land.
It was different from the islands they had left.
New Zealand’s climate was cooler. The plants and
animals were different, too. The Maori had to adapt
to these differences.
New Zealand offered many riches. Its waters
teemed with fish. Birds nested along the shore.
The rain and rich soil were good for farming.
It took a while for the Maori to get used to
their new land. In time, they began to prosper.
Maori History
The Maori may have arrived in New Zealand around 800.
1769 British captain James Cook explores New Zealand.
1840 Britain makes New Zealand a colony.
1845 Fighting breaks out between Maori and British.
1872 Fighting ends.
1907 New Zealand gains independence.
1987 Maori becomes one of New Zealand’s official languages.
5
Village Life
Most of the early Maori people lived in small
villages. Their homes were small and rectangular.
They were built of wood and other plant materials.
In times of war, the Maori would move into a pa,
or fort. The pa might have high wooden walls and
watchtowers. Or, it might be set on a high hill or cliff.
This made it even harder for enemies to attack.
Every Maori village had a meetinghouse.
The Maori decorated each meetinghouse with
an array of carvings and
other artwork. Near the
meetinghouse was a flat, open
space. It was called the
marae.
The meetinghouse
and the marae formed
the center of Maori
life. Here, the Maori
held important rituals.
These ceremonies
included weddings,
funerals, and war rites.
People also met here to
discuss community issues. The marae and the
meetinghouse were also
used to welcome visitors.
6
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Daily Life
In Maori culture, men and women often
had rigid social roles. Men usually served as village
leaders. A woman could be a leader, but only if she was
the firstborn child of a leading family.
Men and women shared farming chores. Men
loosened the soil for planting. Women planted the crops.
The Maori also depended on the ocean for food.
Respect for the sea permeated Maori life. Children
were taught to honor the sea.
These modern Maori men and women
are dressed in traditional clothing.
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Kumara
The kumara, or sweet potato, has a long history in Maori
culture. The Maori are experts at growing different kinds of
kumara. After one type of caterpillar began to destroy their
crops, the Maori found a unique solution. They tamed and
trained seagulls to eat the caterpillars.
Tattooing has long been an
important Maori art form.
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Maori Art
For the Maori, arts played a key role in their lives.
Boys learned rudimentary skills, often by working
under a master carver. They worked with wood, stone,
and bone. As they grew older, they carved the designs
on canoes and meetinghouses.
Women were responsible for weaving. They wove
reeds into beautiful patterns for the meetinghouses.
They also made decorated cloaks. Their materials
included feathers and fibers from flax plants.
A Maori weaver wearing
a decorated cloak
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The Coming of the Pakeha
The first Maori meetings with European explorers
— called pakeha — were not friendly. But that changed
as the two groups began to trade. The Maori traded
their flax and crops. In return, they received tools and
other equipment. As first, this trade was good for the
Maori. But then more and more Europeans moved to
the islands.
The Europeans also traded guns with the Maori.
Different Maori groups had often warred with each
other. But guns made these conflicts more deadly.
Something else also came from Europe: disease. Many
Maori died from sicknesses they had never faced before.
Mount Cook, the highest mountain
in New Zealand, is named after
British explorer James Cook.
10
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When the Europeans first came, the Maori
population was about 100,000. Warfare and disease
cut that number in half.
In 1840, New Zealand became a British colony.
Maori leaders signed a treaty, or agreement, with
British leaders. The treaty said that the Maori could
keep their land. However, British settlers kept coming
and taking over Maori land. As a result, warfare broke
out between the British and some of the Maori.
The Maori ended up losing a lot of their land.
When a peace treaty was reached, the Maori decided
not to defy the government. Instead, they asked the
government to respect their traditions. They also
pushed for a return of their lands.
Sir Maui Pomare
(c.1876–1930)
Maui Pomare was one of only a few Maori doctors in
New Zealand. Dr. Pomare taught his people how to
improve their health. Maori population numbers began
to go up again.
11
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Modern Maori Life
In time, the Maori reached an agreement with
New Zealand’s government. This deal helped resolve
the conflict over land. The government also apologized
for past mistakes.
Many Maori moved to cities for better jobs.
But cities kept them apart from their traditional
homelands. So new efforts were made to preserve
Maori language and culture.
The Maori began to build meetinghouses in cities.
That way they could keep their traditions alive. In
fact, so many urban meetinghouses were built that
woodcarvers could hardly keep up with the demand.
The Maori adapted to their new home centuries
ago. Now they are adapting to modern life. Today’s
Maori may speak English immaculately, as well as their
native language. Many go back to their homelands for
birthdays, weddings, and funerals. Traditional food,
song, and dance have also helped urban Maori stay
connected to their culture.
The Maori population is still growing. Many of
them are poor, however. Modern Maori leaders are
working hard to improve their people’s health and
economic outlook.
12
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Many Maori
now live in
urban areas.
13
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What the Future Holds
Would New Zealand’s first settlers recognize
modern Maori people as their descendants?
The answer is probably yes. The modern Maori
show a key quality that their ancestors shared:
the ability to adapt.
Today’s Maori are poised to become a stronger
people in the future. They still rely on their traditions.
They still adapt to life’s many changes. They are
working with all of New Zealand’s people for a better
shared future.
The Maori today celebrate
and share their traditions.
14
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Responding
TARGET VOCABULARY Word Builder Copy
the chart below. Complete it with words that
mean the opposite of defy (antonyms).
Synonyms of Defy Antonyms of Defy
refuse ?
disobey ?
Write About It
Text to Self Why might a group of people
feel they had to defy a government? Write a
paragraph in response to this question. Use two
words from the Word Builder in your paragraph.
15
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TARGET VOCABULARY
array poised
consequences rigid
defy rudimentary
immaculately sparsely
permeated venture
TARGET STRATEGY Visualize Use text details to
form pictures in your mind of what you are reading.
An elementary school where everyone is
not polite might be called a _________.
16
6_028897_VR2_4BL_Maori.indd 16 1/17/08 8:59:15 AM
Level: U
DRA: 44
Social Studies
Strategy:
Visualize
Word Count: 1,172
6.2.9 Build Vocabulary
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Online Leveled Books
1033026
H O UG H T O N M IF F L IN
