The "V"oice fading quickly, page-585

"You're inclined to believe that are you? Well thats encouraging. Why are you inclined to believe that the Haka is the real deal when it comes to traditional culture but you think the smoking ceremony is contrived and made up from the 70's? Is it because the thought appeals to you and confirms your bias? Or is it due to your efforts to remain objective and research it?"

What I found -
Māori traditionally recorded their history in carvings, oratory and waiata (songs). After Europeans arrived, some recorded the historical knowledge of Māori, and a few Māori recorded their own history. One example was Wiremu Maihi Te Rangikāheke, who was employed by Governor George Grey to write down Māori history.

Māori had no written language, but the symbolic meanings embodied in carving, knots and weaving were widely understood.

Whakapapa (genealogy) has a central place in Māori tradition, and the carvings of meeting houses usually portray historical figures and past incidents. In oratory on the marae speakers constantly draw upon historical precedent. The founding waka (canoes) and historical battles are often referenced.

Māori settled in New Zealand about 700 years ago, having come from Polynesia.

From the above I think that Maori were much more advanced that Aboriginals. They left behind heaps of evidence over a paultry 700 years. Aboriginals however had 60,000 years and lefty behind bugger all. How can we forget some mud sprayed by mouth onto cave walls, some shells left behind in a rubbish tip. There biggest achievments over 60,000 years, incredible stone fish traps, the boomerang and the woomera.

Its wasnt there fault that they were only slightly more advanced than natives in the New Guinea highlands.

Vote NO!