13. What Maori oral evidence exists in New Zealand suggesting human habitation over two thousand years ago? (Part 2)

What are the sources of evidence?

1.      Māori Oral History Evidence Continues

Observations on Pre-Polynesian Inhabitation

A number of people in New Zealand claim descent from Waitaha, Tūrehu, and Patupaiarehe. Numerous books have been written on the subject, with some suggesting that many cultural elements commonly associated with Māori may have originated from these earlier inhabitants.

A notable text on this topic is Hawaikai: 2000 BC to Hokianga by Joan M. Leaf (1993). Leaf describes the migration of Waitaha from southern India (Hawaikai) to Borneo and, due to hostilities, their eventual departure from northern New Zealand around 3,000 years ago. Over time, the Waitaha gradually moved southward to Wellington.

Dr Ranganui Walker stated in the 1986 New Zealand Yearbook, page 18, when Head of Maori Studies at the Auckland University, “The traditions are quite clear on one point, whenever crew disembarked there were already tangata whenua (prior inhabitants) living in New Zealand”.

This was endorsed by Ngapuhi Leader David Rankin when he stated in the Northern Advocate on the 27 December 2012, "If we believe our histories, then we as Maori are not the indigenous people of New Zealand. He pointed to numerous Maori oral histories which referred to people being here when the first Maori arrived, including fair-skinned people”.

Regardless of who the earliest settlers were, they were either assimilated into or eliminated by the later arriving Māori.

What are some examples you may know suggesting the possible presence of pre-Polynesian inhabitants in New Zealand? How do you view the credibility of oral histories?

This is discussed in the following Blog.