Polynesian myths
Many Māori myths about the creation and gods of the heavens had their counterparts in Polynesian cultures.
Part of story: Ranginui – the sky
Colonial myth making
Land grants Like promoters of immigration, colonial politicians and governments encouraged New Zealand’s development as primarily a rural society.
Part of story: Rural mythologies
Māori humor - te whakakata
Humour has always been an important part of Māori culture and features in myths, speeches and songs. Many of New Zealand’s best-known comedians, such as Billy T.
Part of story: Māori humor - te whakakata
The meaning of canoe traditions
The canoe (waka in Māori) traditions or stories describe the arrival in New Zealand of Māori ancestors from a place most often called Hawaiki. They also refer to the
Part of story: Canoe traditions
Settling in Australia
In the early 1990s some estimates put the number of people with Māori ancestry living in Australia as high as 80,000. One Māori elder, Graham Anderson, predicted that by 2020
Part of story: Māori overseas
Matariki – Māori New Year
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. Traditionally, it was a time for remembering the dead, and celebrating new life.
Part of story: Matariki – Māori New Year
Ranginui – the sky
Ranginui, the sky father, was torn away from Papatūānuku, the earth mother, and formed the vault of the heavens.