The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, a large island in the South Pacific Ocean located off the southeast coast of Australia. While some Maori continue traditional cultural practices like the haka war dance, now performed ceremonially rather than for war, and moko facial tattoos, others have adopted non-traditional modern lifestyles. However, traditional Maori culture remains an important part of New Zealand's national identity and celebration of its indigenous people, though many Maori still struggle with issues like poverty that afflict other conquered indigenous populations.

1. By Jiayi Chen January 12 .2012 Period 4 Culture and Geography Who are the Maori?

2. The maori are an indigenous culture of New zealand

3. New Zealand is a large island in the south pacific ocean off the south east coast of Australia.

4. Some contemporary maori are traditional, some live non traditional, modern live.

5. One traditional of the maori culture is the haka war dance.The dance however is now performed for ceremonial purposes, not war.

6. Another traditional of the maori is ta moko: tattooing or painting the face and body with dark arching patterns.

7. Traditional maori culture is truly a celebration of the Maori Culture and all that we are as a country.

8. Sadly, like other conquered indigenous people, many maori struggle with poverty, alcoholism and drug abuse.