Re: Maori Origins

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 20:29:46 +0100, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (JRP)
wrote:

>t(nospam)kavanagh <"tkavanag"@(nospam)indiana.edu> wrote:
>
>> 
>> Which just shows your utter disdain for Native Cultures and the
>> differences between them.
>> 
>
>After visiting a museum in Christchurch (NZ)* last week, I have
>questions about the earliest inhabitants of New-Zealand. What was the
>origin of the earliest polynesians who discovered that country ? Is the
>date of the earliest settlements known ? The maori culture is considered
>as having spred about ten centuries ago to both isles. It was not clear
>to me if the maoris were late invaders or if they merged from different
>waves of immigrants. I am sorry to say that the information I could get
>here so far was rather confusing to me, beyond the common disputes.  I
>confess having about no idea about the maoris before (despite the ritual
>of All-Blacks before playing rugby of course 8-))). The native culture
>of maoris is quite interesting and deserves much attention. The human
>occupancy of New-Zealand seems to be incredibly recent when compared to
>most other parts of the world including Australia.
>Thanks 

The history of Maori settlement is conventionally accepted but is
challenged, particularly in the South Island where there is an active
group of people who claim to have predated the Maori. There are also
indications in the North Island that the conventional view is overly
simplistic and that the Maori were predated by unknown inhabitants.
Whether or not these people were merely earlier waves of polynesians
is a matter for debate. So too is whether or not they are even real.



Eric Stevens