Understanding New Zealand - and New Zealanders - means understanding the influence of Māori people and culture.

About the Māori people

Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Their language - Te Reo - is an official language of the country along with English and sign language. Nearly 700,000 people in New Zealand are Māori. That’s more than one in seven of us. While the best way to learn about Māori culture is to experience it first hand, Te Ara Encyclopedia has some excellent reading. It covers the history of Māori arrival and settlement and an overview of Māori culture to the present day. It also discusses ‘biculturalism’ and how the relationship between Māori and Pakeha (Māori term for people of European descent) has changed over time.

For further information visit: https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/settling-in/maori-culture