The Maori people are the original Inhabitants of New Zealand. They are Polynesian and their name means Children of Heaven'. They speak English as well as Maori and are triondly and kind Today, most Maori people follow a European lifestyle, but they still keep the customs and traditions their culture allve One of tho most impressive Maori raditions is he haka dance. lt is a war dance but the Maori now perform it on special occasions such as when welcoming visitors. They danco in e the traditional Maori costume called kakahu. This includes a grass skirt and a belt The belts have different designs on them that represent elements of nature, such as the waves ot a river or the stars in the sky The Maori people are famous for their tattoos or ta moko. Men wear them all over their faces and women on ther chinand ips The tattoos are not simple drawings. Each one is unique and they tell us who the person is or which tmbe they belong to.