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As you may know, the Maoris are a Polynesian people native to New Zealand. Over a thousand years ago, they migrated there from the Polynesian Islands via ancestral voyaging canoes. A quick glance at Yahoo!'s Maori Culture category reveals a number of helpful resources: language guides, dance demonstrations, historical documents, independence efforts, and more. Free associating on all things Maori -- we've seen the Hakka ceremonial war dance that the New Zealand rugby team uses to terrify its opponents before games. We've also seen Once Were Warriors, a powerful
film about the struggles of a contemporary working class Maori family in New Zealand. We've noticed that a lot of popular tribal tattoos owe a debt to traditional Maori designs, known as Ta Moko. What are the Maori really like? We can't tell you, because we're not Maori. The Maori Studies Department at New Zealand's University of Otago includes several email contacts that could inspire an online correspondence. Or better yet, plan a visit to New Zealand to make some new friends.
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