The native people in New Zealand are the Maoris. Of Polynesian heritage, they settled in New Zealand hundreds of years before the Europeans. Rotorua has two excellent Maori villages (recreated). We visited both and came away with new respect and understanding. They had a keen grasp of the stars and passed their knowledge on in the oral tradition. Because their language was not written down until the British came, it is easy for English speakers to read because it is all interpreted phonetically, although there are some pronunciation differences between the North and South Islands. The Maori were warring tribes. As such, their villages were often built on the top of a hill surrounded by a deep trench. It is thought the the trench warfare used in WWI came about as a result of contact with the Maori. Here Mariah is shown at the entrance to a village.

(L) a food house. These homes were used strictly to house food. Food was in the form of grains and preserved birds. The birds were cooked, deboned and then placed in gourds, and covered with fat for future use.

(R) Mariah poses against a fence made of silver fern trunks. When carved the silver fern reveals a pattern of light and dark fibers that some believe was an influence to the Maori face carving. Yes, face carving. The designs on faces were carved using a shell and denoted the lineage and rank of the wearer. The higher the rank, the more carving (ouch!). The faces of both men and women were carved.

 

The second village we visited was on the outskirts of Rotorua and was the protector of the geysers and mud baths. In addition, the Institute is a school for training the Maori arts, including wood carving and green stone carving. The mud baths are well known for their healing properties. The area stinks! The smell of sulfer is pervasive and unavoidable.