Maori

MÄ?ori is an Austronesian language spoken in New Zealand. The country has in essence three official languages: MÄ?ori, English and New Zealand Sign Language. Maori is also spoken in the Cook Islands. The language was brought to New Zealand by Polynesian people, probably from Taihiti or thereabouts in about 800 AD, or possibly earlier. New Zealand MÄ?ori is most closely related to Tahitian, which is spoken in Tahiti and the Society Islands, and Rarotongan, which is spoken in the southern Cook Islands.

Map of Maori language speakers.
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Map of Maori language speakers.
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Basic stats

Total speakers: 165,000

Main Countries: New Zealand

Alternate names: New Zealand Maori

ISO 639-3 Code: mri


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Language Sample

Ko te katoa o nga tangata i te whanaungatanga mai e watea ana i nga here katoa; e tauriterite ana hoki nga mana me nga tika. E whakawhiwhia ana hoki ki a ratou te ngakau whai whakaaro me te hinengaro mohio ki te tika me te he, a e tika ana kia meinga te mahi a tetahi ki tetahi me ma roto atu i te wairua o te noho tahi, ano he teina he tuakana i ringa i te whakaaro kotahi.

(Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1)


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Some proverbs in Maori:

Toitū he whenua, whatungarongaro he tangata
Land is permanent, man disappears

He iti wai kÅ?whao waka e tahuri te waka
It may only be a small storm yet a successful outcome is imminent

He mahi kai te taonga
Survival is the treasured goal

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Product Availability

The following products are currently available in Maori:

  • For Consumers

(Coming soon)

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Sources

Retrieved from "http://ns2.eatoni.com/wiki/index.php/Maori"
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