Writing & Art
Māori was not originally a written language. Missionaries were the first to write the language and so the Latin alphabet was used.
However there was a strong oral history which was passed on from generation to generation. This meant that every family could trace their family back to the first canoes which arrived in New Zealand. Carvings and moku were used to tell a story. The moku was a family history which told of a person's family. |
Artists painted pictures of Māori. Gottfried Lindauer painted many portraits of Māori in the 19th century.
http://www.lindaueronline.co.nz/maori-portraits
http://www.lindaueronline.co.nz/maori-portraits
The tradition of carving continues to be passed from generation to generation. People of Māori descent can learn their trade at special college in Te Puia. Click on the photograph to learn more about Māori culture. |
Other types of sculptures can also be seen all over New Zealand.
Here you can see an example of a bone carving.