Māori culture

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mori-culture

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cultural designation?Māoritanga
2. What is the geographic and cultural origin?Indigenous people of New Zealand, stemming from Eastern Polynesian culture
3. Why do Māori people carve wharenui?The carvings on wharenui, or meeting houses, show family stories, myths, and ancestors. They help keep history alive and remind everyone of their identity.
4. What is a haka?A haka is a lively dance and chant that Māori people perform to celebrate, welcome guests, or show pride. It is part of the Kapa haka performing arts.

Wharenui: A carved meeting house, central to Māori community life and cultural expression.
Tapu and Noa: Concepts of sacredness/restriction (tapu) and commonality/freedom (noa), fundamental to Māori worldview.
Iwi and Hapū: Tribal (iwi) and sub-tribal (hapū) social structures that form the basis of Māori kinship and governance.