Māori and Pākehā cultures in New Zealand

 The island country of New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific Ocean, in the continent of Oceania. It's mainly formed by three islands: the North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui, the South Island or Te Waipounamu and the Stewart Island. This country is characterized for the coexistence of two cultures: the māori, who are the original polynesian indigenous people of the islands, and the pākehā or "new" newzealanders, settlers that came from Europe in the mid 19^th century.

 The first data known in the history of New Zealand is estimated to come from the 13^th century with the arrival of the first polynesian indigenous. The location of their original homeland is still a mistery today, but it is known that they came from the polynesian islands, since their language and culture are very similar to the ones we can find there. They established a new society in the islands, even though at the beggining they lived in separate tribes and didn't identify as a single culture. Their religion was politeistic and they had an extraordinarily rich oral culture. They were great hunters and prodigious fishermen.

People dressed with traditional māori outfits

                                            

 As for the pākehā, they are the European immigrants who came to New Zealand in the 19^th century. Pākehā culture is mainly influenced by the English one but it actually is a mixture of many European cultures and traditions. At first, the settlers did not intentd to stay permanently, but they realized it was a new land full of opportunities. They signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the indigenous, trying to enable friendly relationships, but a series of events unleashed a war. Both sides suffered big losses, but peace was established and England got the control of the country.

Treaty of Waitangi

                                                               

 Both cultures borrowed many customs from one another. Many māori converted to Christianity and the pākehā taught them to read and to write. The pākehā borrowed māori cultural practices and motifs, using them as something distinctive in artistical works, such as paintings or literature.

Māori greeting, known as Hongi

                                                    

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_New_Zealand
• http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/New-Zealand.html
• http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/maori-stories-and-legends.html
• http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/europeans-arrive-to-aotearoa/