Maori people nowadays
In my blog I wrote many articles about Maori mythology, their customs and traditions, but what is happening to Maori now? How did they adjust to living with Europeans and all this modern world?
So here are some “contemporary” facts about Maori people.
Population
According to Statistics New Zealand Maori population as of June 2007 stood at 632,900 people, 310,200 of which are male and 322,700 are female. This represents 14.7 percent from total New
Zealand’s population (which stands now at 4,288,090). The forecast is that Maori population will reach 16.6% at year 2021.
Nowadays most of Maori people live in urban areas, with only small part living in rural areas, and also many live outside of New Zealand – about 70,000 live in Australia and about 10,000 live in Britain.
Language
The Maori language is an official language of New Zealand, but not many people can speak it even among Maori themselves. Nowadays effort is being made to revive the Maori language. Places are named with Maori names and original Maori names mostly aren’t being changed.
Problems
Maori are facing many problems in modern time – they have higher unemployment rates than other cultures living in New Zealand, and only about 47% of Maori school-leavers finish school with qualifications higher than NCEA Level One (compared to 74% European and 87% Asian). Maori also suffer more health, alcohol and drug related problems than any other culture living in New Zealand.
Maori youth always had a difficult time keeping connected with the traditional Maoritanga culture and thus “imported” mainstream cultural icons, identities, and lifestyles. Many Maori kids took after the African American hip hop culture. But in recent time many efforts are being made to bring Maori youth back to their roots and heritage.
Personally I had a very good experience with Maori people, all the Maoris I met in New Zealand were very friendly and nice.
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November 26th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Kia ora Greg,
I think it important to relate that from the prespective here the Maori language is actually under going a bit of a resurgence, with a television station devoted to Maori programming and language – and a station I most often watch, as well as total emergence schools and language classes, and a bigger emphasis in schools.
The problems with Maori leading all negative statistics is deeply rooted in colonial times, also in urbanization, but once again the emergence of the Maori party as a political player under the MMP system has given a much higher profile to these shameful figures. It is the same story with almost any indiginous culture in the world.
It needs to be as important to the Pakeha (white) culture, or should be, that the Maori culture also thrives. It is part of what makes Aotearoa such a unique and interesting land. Cheers.
Rangimarie,
Robb
November 28th, 2008 at 3:33 am
I totally agree with you Robb, Maori people are integral part of New Zealand, and they should thrive on this land, but they need help and understanding from Pakeha in order to succeed… or at least no interference from them.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I have always found the Maori culture fascinating. I love their artwork and have seen it online. Thank you for this enlightening post.
Cheers! JJ
December 5th, 2008 at 4:43 am
You welcome JJ,
I am glad you liked it!