"Maori" is the language spoken by the Maori people, the indigenous people of New Zealand, and is an official language in NZ, along with English.
Although not many people use it on a daily basis, many of the words are used in place names and food names, and the word is well known among the public.
Maori pronunciation is basically written in Roman letters, so it is said to be easy for Japanese people to pronounce.
Here are some Maori words you should definitely learn.
Aotearoa
It means New Zealand (country).
In Maori, it originally meant " land of the long white cloud " and referred only to the North Island, but now it refers to the whole of New Zealand.
Aotearoa is also the title of New Zealand's national anthem: "Aotearoa/God Defend New Zealand."
There are two versions of the national anthem: Māori and English. When singing the national anthem before a rugby match, it is customary to sing the Māori version first, followed by the English version, one after the other.
Hangi
It is a traditional dish that Maori people eat on special occasions.
It involves digging a hole in the ground and putting hot stones in it, or using geothermal heat to steam-cook vegetables and meat wrapped in leaves or cloth.
Nowadays, you can actually eat hangi in places like Rotorua on the North Island, which is famous for its geysers.
Rotorua
Located in the central North Island of New Zealand, it is one of the country's leading tourist destinations.
In Maori, the name means "second lake" and the beautiful Lake Rotorua lives up to its name, providing a source of healing for the people.
Te Whakarewarewa in Rotorua has long been home to many Maori people, and today there are Maori villages, facilities, and arts and crafts schools.
The Te Puia facility was built with the aim of preserving Maori culture, and also hosts Maori shows and guided tours for tourists.
