Māori are the tangata whenua, the indigenous people, of New Zealand. They came here more than 1000 years ago from their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. Today, one in seven New Zealanders identify as Māori. Their history, language and traditions are central to New Zealand’s identity.

The long and intriguing story of the origins of the indigenous Maori people can be traced back to the 13th century, the mythical homeland Hawaiki, Eastern Polynesia. Due to centuries of isolation, the Maori established a distinct society with characteristic art, a separate language and unique mythology.

Māori dance (Hari)

"We perform haka as an expression of pride," says Karl Johnstone. Kapa haka, a traditional Māori posture dance, "was about not only intimidating the opponents, but it was about how do we actually prevent degenerating into a battle?" he says. "Haka is all about the expression of your inner energy. The shaking of the hands," says Johnstone, "that’s an expression of our life force … it’s showing that there’s an energy within you."

Watch New Zealand’s Tuku Iho Living Legacy perform kapa haka at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.