History of the Maori people

  It's been centuries since I last updated a blog post, and I am on my bed asking for forgiveness, I can't get on my knees, they are hurting, just take the apology because you are a nice and forgiving person😌 let's keep it moving.

   

   I stumbled upon the culture of the Maori people sometime last year, I mean I had watched Moana and seen Jason Momoa, the actor that played Aquaman alongside Dwayne Johnson do the Haka dance, but I was just not interested as much. I came across a video of the Maori people when they protested against the government trying to strip the citizens of their rights to their lands. They protested the 'Toitu Te Tiriti', this phrase which means 'Honour the Treaty' is a popular catch cry for activists protesting the government's policies affecting Maori. I followed up on the issue and that was how the love story began. Little TMI: I cried watching countless videos about the protest, whatever you want to do with that information, that's your business Okon. Enough of the 'and that's how I met your mother', let's take a train to Polynesia, no motion sickness is allowed on this journey, please hold your throats, thank you💓

   Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand, their history began with the Polynesian settlers in New Zealand(Aotearoa) which is the Maori language name for New Zealand. The ancestors of Maori arrived on canoes from Pacific islands before 1300CE. They lived in small tribal groups, hunted Seals and Moas and some peopled moved to the forests. However, the ancient story of how the people of Maori arrived in New Zealand can be traced to the legend of Kupe.

Based on the traditional Maori history,1000 years ago Kupe was a great chief of Haiwaiki who arrived in New Zealand in 925 CE. He left his cousin, Hoturapa to drown during a fishing expedition, talk about it be your own loved ones. He kidnapped his wife, Kuramarotini with whom he fled in her great canoe Matawhourua, they were the first explorers to discover Aeotearoa that was later named New Zealand. Guided by their ocean sailing experience and the stars, they sailed across Te Moana a Kiwa later named the Pacific Ocean to find out what lay beyond the horizon. During their journey, they overcame numerous monsters and sea demons, including the great octopus named Te Wheke-a-Muturangi.  Now I can understand Moana, because i never just understood why she kept on going to the water when she was told not to, I get that it was her calling but was she not scared?. It makes sense now, it's inborn.

When Kupe and his wife spotted a large land-mass covered in white cloud in the distance, Kurumarotini cried out," He ao! He ao! He aotea! He aeotearoa!" which means ": A cloud, a cloud! A white cloud! A long white cloud!". As a result, the land became known as Aetearoa, land of the long white cloud.

There are many versions of the Legend of Kupe, another version says Kupe encountered difficulties in his village, and they discovered the cause of their misfortune was the giant octopus, Te Wheke o Muturangi. It belonged o Muturangi, a rival of Kupe who had instructed his pet Octopus to prevent Kupe and his people from fishing. I don't understand how a giant deadly octopus will be considered a pet, it's giving ":Murife don't run". After trying to talk to Muturangi to call off his pet didn't yield any result, Kupe vowed to kill the octopus in order to save his people. He set out with his wife, family and crew in a great waka (canoe) known as Matawhaorua. In the process of defeating Te Wheke o Muturangi, Aotearoa was discovered.

What version of the story do you prefer?

I prefer the first version, it's more villainy, the second one is just a boring hero story. What do you think?

Aroha ahau ki a koe, meaning "I love you" in Maori. Thank you for reading to this point.

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