ONEOFMANYFEATHERS'
Maori of Aotearoa
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Aotearoa
Land of the long white cloud
Black represents Te Korekore the realm of Potential Being. The long darkness from whence the world emerged. It represents the heavens. The male element is formless. Black is Ranginui or Sky Father, the giver of life.
White represents Te Ao Marama the realm of Being and light. It is the physical world, where symbolises purity, harmony and enlightenment, and balance.
The Koru, curling frond shape, represents the unfolding of new life, that everything is reborn and continues. It represents renewal and hope for the future.
Red represents Te Whei Ao, the realm of Coming into Being. It symbolises the female element. It also represents gestation. Red is Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, the sustainer of all living things. Red is the colour of earth from which the first human was made.
The Maori People
The Maori, a people of Polyneasian origin, are the native inhabitants of New Zealand. The majority of the Maori live on New Zealand's North Island. Many Maori live in the East Cape area, where they form the majority of the population. Others live in the large cities of New Zealand such as Auckland and Wellington. Most Maori speak the Maori language as well as English. The Maori language is a branch of the Austronesian languages.
In traditional Maori belief the sky, Rangi, is the first male and the earth, Papa, the first female. In the beginning these two lay embraced, then they were pushed apart by one of their sons, Tane [Male], to make room for people to live between them. Afterwards Tane fathered trees, birds, and last of all, human beings.
Maori Independance
" Ka whawhai tonu matou ake ake ake " - Rewi Maniapoto 1864 " We will fight on forever, ever and ever"
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