Humans May Have Come To New Zealand Later Than Though

> New Zealand seems like a nice enough country for all of us U.S. conservatives to move over there very soon in large numbers and then revive conservatism there. New Zealand is still a very socialistic country today.

Y’all come on down now, y’hear? You’d be most welcome. We are about to throw out Helen and her motley crew of scolding socialist schoolmarms and lying lesbian liberals, in this year’s election.

The tides are changing, and Helengrad shall soon be no more...

> I don't know anything about the Maoris, they might be totally fine people but from their appearance as shown in movies they look like really slimy characters.

"Once were Warriors" is probably the film you are specifically referring to: it played in the US, and is based upon Alan Duff's book by the same name (the first of three books: followed by "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" -- also a movie that had limited US release, and another one which I can't recall)

Alan Duff is a Maori, and writes on Maori social issues. "Once Were Warriors" and "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" does indeed paint an ugly picture of Maoridom at its underbelly. "Slimy" probably isn't the right word for it: "Extremely Violent" describes it better.

That aspect definitely exists, just like "Colors" depicts a certain aspect of the Black experience in the US.

As with all stereotypes, they do not play out well in the absolute. Maori culture is rich and very exciting, Maori hospitality is legendary, their arts and technologies are truly amazing, and their bravery on the battlefield is without equal anywhere in the world.

I spend a fair bit of time with Maori organizations, most particularly the Ezekiel 33 Charitable Trust, whose mission is to keep youth-at-risk away from drugs, crime, and the gangs -- which is a mission entirely compatible with the Guardian Angels, of which I am the NZ National Director. They are a fantastic organization.

In many ways, the Maori experience with Europeans mirrors the Canadian Indian experience: treaties were put in place, and treaties were broken, and land was expropriated unfairly and their culture was suppressed: without ever once being beaten fair-and-square in battle.

I think it is this latter point that galls them the most. Their deal with the Crown makes them equals to all New Zealanders: some would argue that it makes their system of government equal to Parliament. And yet, until quite recently, Maori were treated as anything but equal.

We are now paying the piper for that.

> My neighbor, who is from New Zealand says his favorite team is the 'All Blacks.' He says they are the toughest/roughest because of the Maori presence on the team.

I agree with your neighbor, blam! Check this out:

All Black Haka

Now, imagine if you had a war party of these characters, complete with their facial tattoos, riding in Huey helicopters, hooning around the streets of Tehran Air Cav-style.

It would give the Mad Mullahs visions of the Apocalypse, for certain: they would repent and sin no more.

There are few things on this earth more chilling than a Maori war party.

> Maori Men And Women From Different Homelands

Very plausible: if you’re a member of a raiding war party, why not pick up some women along the way?

Although if you read Te Arawa’s history (which was originally oral by nature) at least that Maori Iwi brought women with them. They settled in and around Rotorua and Whakatane.

I find it fascinating that scientists insist that Maori came from Taiwan. Frankly I don’t believe it for a moment. If you ask Maori where they came from, they will tell you “Hawaiki”.

Now, scientists insist that “Hawaiki” isn’t Hawaii. Yet if you travel to Hawaii and hear Hawaiian as it is spoken, it is quite understandable if you can also speak Maori: the words are very, very close, as is the grammar.

Tahitians are Maori: I have a mate who is the local chief here in West Auckland. He is also a chief — by blood — in Tahiti.

Cook Islanders also speak a language so similar to Maori that it can be easily understood.

If I had to guess, I’d say that Maori migrated East to West, and if there are any genes in Taiwan similar to theirs, it is probable that THEY colonized Taiwan and Indonesia — not the other way around.

Maori and Samoans and Tongans and other Pacific Islanders used the Pacific currents as frequently and as reliably as we use Interstate Hiways. They were great maritime powers, in their time. I have yet to hear of any real maritime exploits from Taiwan.

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