Q 01/05

Māori are descended from settlers who voyaged by canoe from which part of the Pacific?

A) East Polynesia

B) Melanesia

C) Micronesia

D) Southeast Asia

Answer · why

A) East Polynesia

The main settlement period was the first half of the 14th century, and the culture then evolved in isolation for centuries.

Q 02/05

In the Māori language, what does the word "māori" itself mean?

A) Brave or fearless

B) Normal or ordinary

C) People of the land

D) Sea voyager

Answer · why

B) Normal or ordinary

In legend the word separated ordinary mortal humans from gods and spirits, and wai māori means fresh water as opposed to salt.

Q 03/05

What is the traditional Māori greeting in which two people press their noses together?

A) Hongi

B) Hāngī

C) Haka

D) Hui

Answer · why

A) Hongi

The greeting exchanges the ha, or breath of life, and some East Coast iwi press noses twice.

Q 04/05

What is a hāngī?

A) A ceremonial welcome onto marae grounds

B) Cooking food in a pit oven with hot rocks

C) A carved war canoe used for raiding

D) A woven cloak of flax and feathers

Answer · why

B) Cooking food in a pit oven with hot rocks

Lamb, pork, chicken, root vegetables and pumpkin go into baskets on top of the hot stones, and the whole thing is buried for hours.

Q 05/05

The haka "Ka Mate", made famous by the All Blacks, is attributed to which Ngāti Toa war leader?

A) Hongi Hika

B) Te Kooti

C) Te Rauparaha

D) Tāwhiao

Answer · why

C) Te Rauparaha

He composed it around 1820 to celebrate a lucky escape from pursuing enemies, a triumph of life over death.