Maori

An Austronesian language and a member of the Eastern Malayo-Polynesian group of languages, spoken by some 100,000 speakers in New Zealand, where it is one of the official and national languages.

The first Maori grammar appeared in 1815 and in the 1820s a phonetic script for the language was devised in Cambridge. Today Maori is spoken in a number of regional dialects, differing mainly in phonological details and in the lexicon. The main dialects are North Auckland, South Island, Taranaki and Wanganui.

English has had a considerable effect on the Maori vocabulary, but an increasing number of Maori words have come to be used in contemporary New Zealand English as well. Maori is taught as an optional second language in schools. It is also regularly used on official occasions and modern Maori literature is developing fast.


CLASSIFICATION = Austronesian family, SCRIPT = Roman

Courses

Beginner
Maori made easy : for everyday learners of the Maori language. MAO CBEG 8
Maori : Talk now! MAO CBEG 7(CD-ROM)
Te Kākano (Te whanake 1) MAO CBEG 9
Intermediate
Te Pihinga (Te whanake 2) MAO CINT 1
Te Māhuri (Te whanake 3) MAO CINT 2
Advanced
Te kōhure (Te whanake 4) MAO CADV 1

Dictionaries

A dictionary of the Maori language MAO DICO 3
A modern Mãori picture dictionary MAO DICO 4
The Reed pocket dictionary of modern Maori MAO DICO 5
The revised dictionary of modern Māori MAO DICO 2
Te aka : Maori - English, English - Maori dictionary and index MAO DICO 6

Grammar

He tuhituhi Maori : a study of Maori texts by well-known writers MAO GRAM 1
Nga Kupu Whakamarama : Maori grammar MAO GRAM 2

Film

Once were warriors MAO FILM 1(DVD)

Vocabulary

The Raupo phrasebook of modern Maori: the user-friendly guide for all New Zealanders MAO VOCAB 1