SOURCE5 a) A modern M̄aori whakairo craftsman and b) an image from the past of a M̄aori elder next to a detailed carving
M̄aori carvings expressed religious beliefs, myths and images of gods. The finest examples of M̄aori art and carving were created for the whare runanga , the cultural centre of the village. Supporting posts were often carved with images of the seven waka ancestors, and interior wall panels featured ancestral figures. Bows of canoes also often displayed ornately carved and ferocious faces. 11.6.5 The community
The whanau was the family unit at the core of M̄aori society. Families and other members of the hapu (clan group) decided where people lived, who they married, who their friends were and who they fought. Village communities ranged in size from just a few families to over 500 people. Land and most property were communally owned. Different families or tribal groups could have different rights to the same piece of land. For example, one family might catch birds in the forest while another might fish or grow crops in the same area.
SOURCE6 Tu Kaitote, the Pa of Te Whero Whero , by George Angas. Painted c. 1845, this image shows a community meeting being held in the marae (courtyard).
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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