Book Description

Ki te Whaiao: An Introduction to Māori Culture and Society, is intended for students of Māori studies at tertiary institutions. It is also aimed at several other audiences: those Māori who want to know more about their own world, Pākehā living in this country, and people from overseas who want to learn about the history of the Indigenous people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The book describes traditional and contemporary Māori society and its interaction with Pākehā society since first contact. It gives expression to the voices and words of Māori scholars and those informed by their world-view. Emphasis has been placed on the clarification of Māori cultural concepts throughout, in order to give readers a deeper understanding of the Māori world and to excite their interest in the key themes developed throughout the text. The book has been arranged in two parts Part one is called Te Ao Māori (The Māori World) and examines a series of topics encompassing tribal histories about the creation,important cultural concepts, the migration journeys to Aotearoa, the origins of the Māori language, cultural traditions and practices, leadership and Māori performing and fine arts. Part two, Ngā Ao e Rua (The Two Worlds) examines early contact between Māori and Pākehā, the Treaty and related issues, religion, sovereignty, education and literature, and ends with a chapter on the Pacific peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand.