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Sex within Māori culture was an open discussion, people chose their own sexual partners and 'accepted that sex before marriage occurred'. [49] In Māori society assault on a woman was a serious offence [50] different to English laws. Before 1896 under English law the age of consent was 12 years old and incest was not considered a crime.
Starting in the 1920s, H. D. Skinner and others overturned the hypothesis about a pre-Māori people by showing the continuation and adaptation of the 'Archaic' Māori culture into the 'Classic' Māori culture. This negated the need for pre-Māori settlement in models of prehistoric New Zealand.
The earliest period of Māori settlement is known as the "Archaic", "Moahunter" or "Colonisation" period. The eastern Polynesian ancestors of the Māori arrived in a forested land with abundant birdlife, including several now extinct moa species weighing between 20 kilograms (44 lb) and 250 kg (550 lb) each.
However, starting slowly in the 1870s detailed research answered questions about human culture, that have international relevance and wide public interest. [ 3 ] Archaeology has, along with oral traditions, defined New Zealand's prehistory ( c. 1300 – c. 1642 ) and protohistory ( c. 1642 – c. 1800 ) and has been a valuable aid in solving ...
The earliest period of Māori settlement, known as the "Archaic", "Moahunter" or "Colonisation" period, dates from the time of arrival to c. 1500. The early Māori diet included an abundance of moa and other large birds and fur seals that had never been hunted before.
The variety grown by Māori prior to the 19th century had a white skin and whitish flesh, unlike today's purple or orange-skinned varieties. The pre-European varieties grown by Māori can be left in the ground year-round in the tropics, but in the cool conditions of New Zealand, the tubers will spoil if left in cold soil over winter and spring.
Before British colonisation of New Zealand, the Indigenous architecture of Māori was an 'elaborate tradition of timber architecture'. [1] Māori constructed rectangular buildings (whare) with a 'small door, an extension of the roof and walls to form a porch, and an interior with hearths along the centre and sleeping places along the walls' for protection against the cold.
Early colonial house types were shaped by both English, Australian and North American practice. The verandah was a typical colonial addition to the regular Georgian era timber cottage. Furniture was made in New Zealand from the earliest period of colonisation. Whaler's furniture from the lower South Island displayed contemporary American taste.