Culture and Population
New Zealand's Culture New Zealand LanguagesNew Zealand PeopleNew Zealand's Population
New Zealand's Culture
Delve into Aotearoa's cultural heritage – and you won’t be disappointed. Maori, Pacific, European and Asian cultures have each added their own special flavour to New Zealand’s (Aotearoa’s) rich cultural blend. You'll find many cultural activities to enjoy throughout the country, from art and heritage trails to historic goldmining and Maori sites.
The colourful and rich history of the indigenous Maori people is beautifully preserved in historic sites, museums and traditional arts and crafts. You'll be dazzled by the vibrancy of contemporary Maori culture, from hip hop and art to film and design. And there are plenty of ways you can get among it. Visit the remote
East Cape to experience authentic Maori culture, partake in Maori arts and crafts, visit a marae (tribal home), enjoy a cultural concert, or fill your puku (tummy) on a hangi (traditional feast) or the array of indigenous foods experiencing a resurgence. As you travel, be aware that some places are of special spiritual or historical significance to Maori, so please be respectful.
Here are just some of the ways you can experience the uniqueness of the Maori culture for yourself:
Marae VisitsMarae are the heart of the local Maori community, and at their centre is the meeting house. Often ornately carved, each carving and wall panel tells a story of the history and ancestors (whakapapa) of the tribe. Always ask for permission before you go onto a marae - access is usually happily granted. Enquire at the local visitor information centre about who to ask. Organised tours are often a good way to experience Maori traditions, such as a powhiri (traditional welcome), a hangi (Maori feast) and cultural song and dance performances (kapa haka). They are also a great opportunity to learn about cultural treasures (taonga) such as carvings.
Te Papa
For an inspiring and interactive look at New Zealand’s history and culture all in the one place, you can’t go past Te Papa – The Museum of New Zealand in Wellington. As well as a huge Maori collection, you’ll also find a marae – so put aside plenty of time to explore this gem.
Kapa Haka
Marvel at the power and grace of kapa haka (traditional Maori song and dance) at Marae and community venues around the country.
Arts and Crafts
Indulge in the beauty and history of Maori art and crafts by giving it a go yourself. Sign up for a workshop in harakeke (flax) basket weaving, bone or greenstone carving, or learn the history, stances and facial expressions of the formidable Maori Haka (war dance).
Contemporary Maori Art
New Zealand has a flamboyant contemporary Maori art scene to explore – so head to an art gallery, fashion show, or music store and see why Maori artists are making a mark on the international stage.
Marae Stay
The marae (tribal home) lies at the heart of Maori culture and community, so discover the essence of the culture with an overnight Marae visit. This experience is on offer in many of the main visitor centres.
HangiYou haven't tasted New Zealand until you’ve indulged in the smoky sweetness of a Maori hangi – a traditional feast cooked underground. So work up and appetite, and gorge yourself on this delicacy, laid down in many tourist locations.
Maori Food Tours
Seek out an indigenous food tour, where you'll discover cutting edge New Zealand cuisine is far more than Chardonnay and crayfish. You'll learn the medicinal properties of native plants, and get inspired with knowledge about indigenous foods and their uses.
Waitangi
This is where it all began – when Maori and European signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. So make the trip north to the Waitangi National Reserve, packed with cultural icons, including a fully carved Maori Meeting House, one of the largest remaining Maori waka (war canoes) and a superb visitor centre and gallery.
Auckland
Head to the hills and check out the remains of the sculptured terraces and pits from the Maori Pa (fortified villages) of Ngati Whatua, the major tribe of the Auckland area, which once stood here. Auckland Museum, set in the grounds of the domain, is also worth a visit, with the world's largest collection of rare and valuable Maori taonga (treasures).
Bay of Plenty and Rotorua
Check out the historic Church of St Stephen The Martyr in
Opotoki,
Whakatane's Toi's Pa, reportedly the oldest pa in the country, and of course, Rotorua, the heart of Maori culture. Take time to visit the beautiful lakeside Ohinemutu Church, the intricate Maori carving at Maori St Faith's Anglican Church or
Te Whakarewarewa, where you'll find a workshop for traditional Maori craft at Rotowhio Marae. And don't leave town without experiencing a Maori concert, where you'll enjoy many aspects of Maori performance art, including the skilful women's poi dance.
Te Wairoa Village
Wander the grounds of this buried village near Rotorua, where 19th century New Zealand was frozen in time by the volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. The same eruption also destroyed New Zealand's famous Pink and White Terraces.
East Cape
This is the place to experience everyday Maoridom – so head east and hear the beauty of the Maori language still spoken in shops and in the street, and see genuine Maori communities.
Whanganui River
Explore the spiritual, cultural and historical significance of this mystical river with a Maori guided tour. Make sure you visit the Whanganui Regional Museum, where you'll find many of the ancestral treasures of the people of the river.
New Zealand Languages
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand (Aotearoa), and Maori is recognised as a legally protected treasure. Te Reo Maori (spoken Maori) is enjoying a resurgence and some schools have a Te Reo programme for students. In areas where there is a rich Maori heritage, such as Gisborne, you may hear Maori being spoken on the streets.
Common Maori words and expressions include kia ora, meaning hello, thanks or good health. Haere mai means come here or welcome. Kai means food or to eat, and a hangi is an earth oven and the food prepared in it. Mana means integrity and prestige, and if something is tapu, it is taboo or forbidden. A moko is a facial tattoo, and a pakeha is a European person.
Maori language
So many of our place names are in Maori that visitors find it a challenge saying where they are going next, although German speakers will find it easier than most. Getting the vowel sounds sorted out is a major advantage.
- a is pronounced as in far
- e is pronounced like the 'ea' in leather.
- i is pronounced as is in me or he.
- o is pronounced as the word awe.
- u is pronounced like the double 'oo' in moon.
The only consonants to watch are:
- r, pronounced close to the 'l' in English. Don't roll it.
- p is softer than in English and not at all explosive.
- wh is mostly pronounced like an 'f'.
- ng is pronounced as in singing.
Handy Maori Words
- Kia Ora – Hello
- Haeri Mai – Welcome
- Tena koe – Formal greeting (to a person)
- Tena koutou katoa – Formal greeting (to a group)
- Ae – yes
- Kao – no
- Kei te pehea koe – How are you? (to a single person)
- Kei te tineo pai – Very well
- Kei te pai – That's fine
- Kai – food
- Pounamu – Maori greenstone
- Tapu – Sacred
- Hangi – feast of food cooked in an underground oven
New Zealand People
Known for their rugged individualism and warm hospitality, 'Kiwis' are a friendly nation who enjoy making visitors welcome. New Zealanders also like to pride themselves on their 'can-do' and 'give-it-a-go' attitudes, a legacy of our pioneering past and geographical isolation.
Kiwis, as we like to call ourselves (after the bird – not the fruit), numbered 4,061,000 in June 2004. Europeans make up 80% of the population and approximately 15% are Maori. Asians and Pacific Islanders also form a significant proportion of the population. These vibrant cultures have helped to shape New Zealand society, creating a diverse range of traditions that span from Chinese New Year to the Maori haka made famous by the All Blacks. Food from the Pacific rim has become standard on menus, creating a delicious style of dining unique to this part of the world.
New Zealand's Population
Although New Zealand is a touch larger than the UK, it has about 55 million fewer people. Kiwis, as we like to call ourselves (after the bird - not the fruit), numbered approximately 4,121,000 in January 2006.
Europeans make up 80% of the population and approximately 15% are Maori. Asians and Pacific Islanders also form a significant proportion of the population. Their cultures have infiltrated New Zealand society. Before each rugby game, the All Blacks perform a Maori war dance, the haka, designed to intimidate the opponents (it usually works).
Food from the Pacific rim flavours an increasing number of menus and a good place to find it is the Otara Markets, held every Saturday in
South Auckland. The wooden drums of the Pacific Islands resonate during sport games.
Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, holds just over one third (1,159,400) of all New Zealanders, and the largest population of non-Europeans. The South Island's
Christchurch has 487,400 people, and the capital,
Wellington, has 428,700 residents.