Dennis Ngawhare: The first to call Aotearoa homeREBEKAH PARSONS-KING/FAIRFAX NZ Dennis Ngawhare says his 'mini-series' of articles is a repudiation of authors and bloggers who claim Māori are not the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Most iwi can associate with a waka tupuna (migration canoe) that brought their ancestors to Aotearoa from the Society Islands and the Cook Islands. READ MORE:* Dennis Ngawhare: What is indigenous to Aotearoa New Zealand? * Dennis Ngawhare: The heritage of the curious explorersCollective memory in tribal traditions can reliably trace back Rangiatea. Although oral history and knowledge is susceptible to interruption (through catastrophe, war and assimilation) fortunately matauranga Maori (Maori knowledge systems) contain mnemonic tools and ways of transmitting multi-generational knowledge.

Source: Stuff July 30, 2017 09:56 UTC