New Zealand Art and Culture

The Next Island nation is the island of New Zealand. New Zealand is said to have one of the most interesting and rich history. With a mix of both European and the native Maori roots. In order to understand the art and culture of the island, we have to look at the people.

The First Settlers: The Maori
As Maori mythology says, it was the great Polynesian Kupe, who discovered New Zealand. This myth is actually historically accurate, because we see similar ways of living and almost identical development of technology. The Polynesians set out in extremely large canoes from anyone of the hundreds of islands they had populated in the Southern Pacific.It is said that between 1200-1300 CE is when the first people set foot on this vast island.

Above: A map of Pacific migration 

Maori Culture: 

Whakairo: An intricate carving on either a hook,art piece, or building. 

Whakairo is an art skill few can even try to attempt. The last great Whakairo carver was Tene Waitere who died in 1931. Less well known artist still continue the Maori tradition.

Haka: is a traditional war cry or dance used by both ancient tribes and modern athletes. There are two main types of Haka. The first is the regular or welcoming Haka used to great distinguished guests, amusement, and for special occasions(funerals).  The next Haka is the War Haka or Peruperu Haka, this would be preformed before a battle either between tribes or with foreigners. The main point was to show their strength over their opponents and essentially scare them into retreating. This Haka is still used today by the rugby teams of New Zealand, like the All Blacks.

Traditional Haka

Haka preformed by the rugby team the All Blacks

Ta Moko:  The sacred "tattooing" or carving on the skin. In each mark tells us the individuals genealogy and his tribe's historical information.

"The marks in general are spirals drawn with great nicety and even elegance. One side corresponds with the other. The marks on the body resemble foliage in old chased ornaments, convolutions of filigree work, but in these they have such a luxury of forms that of a hundred which at first appeared exactly the same no two were formed alike on close examination"

-Capitan Cook 1769 

The process consists of a chiseling on the skin not a tattooing. They Maori used uhi (Chisels) to hit with a small mallet on to the skin. After that process a chard pigment was rubbed into the groves made previously.

For more Information:

Pure New Zealand

New Zealand: A History