Hannah,+Brynne,+Jinni


 * The Maori Tribe **

The Maori language is called Te Reo Maori. The language of the Maori is considered a national treasure because of the new revival of the language. Te Reo Maori is considered an official language of New Zealand and is spoken by 23 percent of New Zealanders. The majority of the speakers of Te Reo Maori do live in New Zealand. According to legend, the Maori came to New Zealand from the mythical Hawaiki which is considered their original homeland and where their language originated.
 * Language **

The Maori were very spiritual people and had many different beliefs about spirits and gods. They believed in many different spiritual beings with spiritual powers. Their supreme god was Io, and was revealed only to people who reached the upper grades of the school of learning. In addition to Io, there were 8 major gods, all children of Rangi and Papa, other spiritual beings. There were more gods depending on the different groups of the Maori; as each tribe had its own exclusive tribal gods. A saying the Maori believed with all their heart was that future mistakes can only be avoided by acknowledging the errors of the past.
 * Beliefs **

Family, tradition, land, and food sources are all valued by the Maori. Family is an important factor to the Maori. Most Maori people would marry into other tribal affiliations for the purposes of protection, survival and wealth.The Maori strongly believed (and still do) that their "tikanga", traditions and the way that everything is done, is very important and needs to be upheld. In the Maori culture, they have a specific way in completing everyday tasks. Everything from eating food, gathering food, preparing food, sleeping, and what they wear, they have a certain process. The Maori also value the concept of "tikanga" and that it should be followed at all times. Tikanga are the rules of the society that they have lived in and created together. If tikanga was ever broken, there were serious consequences that would follow. Maori also held the land important to them as this was their lifeline. The land fed, clothed, nurtured and nourished maori. To Maori, “land is the hand of life” so it was only common sense for Maori to look after and protect the land. This is why the Maori fought so fiercely against one another and against European settlers to retain their land.
 * Values **

The Maoris are known for the war dance they used to do to scare their enemies before going into war. This tradition is called the “haka.” The dance was an important part of their culture, so it is still used nowadays, but it’s not being used for war. Instead, it is the chant of the New Zealand rugby team. Another behavior that the Maoris are known for would be their tattoos that are unique to their culture. They call it a ta moko and contain tribal meanings to the wearer. Their moko could symbolize how much knowledge they have, their social level, and their backgrounds or stories. Because Maoris believe that the head is the most sacred part of the body, a moko on the face is the best way to identify yourself as a Maori. Mokos can also be added to a Maori after an achievement in battle. These days, people would get a moko to show pride in their culture.
 * Behaviors **

Maori language has been affected for the better by globalization. Having television programs in the maori language has caused the language to become more popular. The language is now growing in the amount of speakers. Maori language schools have been created and people visiting the island have learned more about their language and culture.
 * Technology **

Recently, the Maori’s tattoos have been used by companies all around the world for a profit. The Maori tribes worry that although this could be a potential way to earn money, the moko is part of a ritual that is important to the Maori culture. The moko is part of their identity, and it is something unique to their society.
 * Commercialization **

Now that the rest of New Zealand is becoming more mainstream, most of its citizens are speaking english and are no longer speaking Te Reo Maori. There are stories about teachers punishing their students for speaking the native language. A recent study in 2006 showed that only 23.7 percent of Maori could have a conversation in Te Reo Maori and that the newer generations know even less about the language.
 * Travel **

**Works Cited**

This website was used to find out about the Maori beliefs and behaviors.
 * "Maori." Maori. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. . **

This website was used to find out about the Maori language.
 * "Maori Language and Traditions." New Zealand Travel and New Zealand Business. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. . **

This is a website used to find out what the Maori tribes’ beliefs were.
 * "How the Maori Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. . **

This website provided information on the Maori war dance and a little bit of information on tattooing.
 * "The Maori Culture and Traditions." New Zealand Travel Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. **
 * < __http://www.new-zealand-travel-guide.info/maori-culture/>.__ **

This website provided more information on the maori tattoos with a Q&A section. It provided reasons for tattooing, meanings, and how it is used today.
 * "Ta Moko - Significance of Maori Tattoos." 100% Pure New Zealand. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. **
 * < <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/features/maori-culture/maori_ta-moko-significance_feature.cfm>.__ **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PRINT SOURCE- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This book was used to find more information about their mokos (tattoos).
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=xsHiAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.PR7__] **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brown, John. Maori and Polynesian, Their Origin, History, and Culture. N.p.: n.p., n.d. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PRIMARY SOURCES

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a diary from the Maori tribe.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"TE AO HOU The New World [electronic Resource]." TE AO HOU The New World [electronic Resource]. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">< <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao13TeA/c12.html>.__ **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a diary kept by the Maori tribe on their battles.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"MÄori Battalion Diary - December 1941." MÄori Battalion Diary. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. <http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/memory/māori-battalion-diary-december-1941-0>. **