For a Kiwi or New Zealander “Tangata Whenua” these words says it all. But for outsiders these mean nothing at all, unless you are a historian :P. New Zealand’s indigenous people came from tropical Polynesia more than 1100 years ago. Learning to live in New Zealand shaped their thinking and their beliefs until they became Te Māori, a race clearly distinct from other Polynesian cultures.Māori oral history names Kupe as the first explorer to discover New Zealand. He and his companion, Ngahue, captained two sea-going waka (canoes), Matahorua and Tawiri-rangi, and sailed south from Hawaiki to see what lay beyond the horizon.The first sign of a major land mass was a build up of white cloud in the distance. Kupe’s wife, Hine-te-aparangi, called out “He ao he ao! He aotea! He aotearoa” (”A cloud, a cloud! A white cloud! A long white cloud!), and so the land was named Aotearoa - ‘Land of the long white cloud’. The ancient beliefs of Māori culture are recognised and respected by New Zealand’s leaders today. Recently, a North Island roading project was modified to avoid disturbing a taniwha (water monster). In its original form, the roading project would have encroached on a swamp which is the home of a one-eyed taniwha, Karutahi. The local tribe, Ngati Naho, believes the taniwha spends half the year in the swamp. It has a second home in the Waikato River, to which it swims during floods. To ensure that the swamp is undisturbed, Transit New Zealand has altered its plans so that this historic site is preserved. For outsiders or some people these may see as just preservation of some old heritage for tourism. But i think it’s more than tourism, this is the story of every New Zealanders ancestors, whether they are white, Indian or Māori. Story of “People Of The Land”. To Know More About New Zealands History, Culture & Tradition : http://www.enzed.com/tw.html