Māori culture and New Zealand today
2007 marked 20 years since Māori became an official language of New Zealand.
This was a significant milestone for New Zealand, a country which treasures its indigenous heritage by striving to integrate Māori culture into everyday life.
Indigenous people of Aotearoa
The Māori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki more than 1000 years ago.
Today, Māori make up about 15 percent of the New Zealand population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Te reo Māori
More than 150,000 New Zealanders can speak Te reo Māori - the Māori language - to varying degrees of fluency. Obvious signs to the visitor are the Māori words that accompany the English names at popular destinations and airports.
Every year New Zealand sets a week aside to promote the Māori language. During Māori Language Week New Zealanders are encouraged to celebrate the language by learning and using popular Māori phrases in everyday life. This takes place in the office, at schools and in local media.
There are other examples of Māori integration which are a little less obvious.
New Zealand's parliamentary system has seven seats reserved for Māori Members of Parliament. This initiative was established in 1867 and continues to this day. Māori can also stand for general seats.
Māori Television
In 2004 the New Zealand government funded a Māori television station as part of a wider aim to revitalise Māori culture and broadcasting. The channel has proven to be a roaring success, and is a mouthpiece for Māori issues, thoughts and values on New Zealand.
In another move to keep the Māori language and culture alive, Māori immersion schools and kindergartens were established in Auckland in the 1980s. Now there are almost 500 around the country.
Māori tourism
Māori tourism is also playing a major role in the revival of Māori culture.
Once, New Zealand was seen as a highly desirable holiday destination because of its spectacular scenery. These days it is not only the scenery that is drawing the tourists, but also the desire for an authentic experience.
Māori tourism in New Zealand started more than 130 years ago with local Māori guiding visitors through the volcanic Central Plateau region of Aotearoa. Today there are hundreds of tourism products specifically designed to cater for the growing interest in Māori culture and traditions.
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