Cook Islands Maori in New Zealand


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

People of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands are ethnically Maori. They are very closely linked in culture and language to the Maori of New Zealand and Australia. A more generic term would be Polynesian, referring all the peoples of the South Pacific islands.

Mission efforts radically altered the culture of the Cook Islands Maoris as well as other Polynesian peoples. In addition to leaving a new history of faith in God, missionaries introduced schools, medical centers, government structure, and improvements in agriculture. The latter, however, involved losing control of the land to outsiders.

The missionaries influenced the traditional gender roles of Cook Island women by treating them as equal to the island men. Throughout the latter part of the 19th century, less importance was put on authority figures being solely male. As a result, some women became more influential in the public sphere. Other important changes brought by the missionaries include the replacement of the traditional tribal governing system, where hereditary chiefs were in control, with a centralized form of government with elected politicians. Missionaries also introduced the concept of a cash economy that replaced the traditional barter system. Lastly, missionaries are credited with bringing cotton usage for clothing, bedding, and home furnishings to the islands. Agriculture increased as more acreage was utilized for growing cotton for new export markets.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Although fun-loving and friendly, Cook Islands Maoris, like Tahitians and other Polynesians, are conservative and generally religious people who adhere to their customary way of life and culture. Missionaries stamped their indelible mark on these islands in the 19th century.

Though there are differences in the cultures of the tiny islands scattered over a section of the South Pacific Ocean as big as the Indian sub-continent, there are also commonalities.

Food and meal sharing are prominent features in Polynesian cultures. Western notions of the importance of the individual are entirely alien to them; they had to adjust when Western powers took their island homes. They see themselves as members of a race, a people, a party, or some other general group in much the same way that many societies do.

One of a male's most significant functions is organizing and paying for feasts. A chief, or indeed, any man, is judged by his ability and willingness to bestow gifts and throw big parties.

One outstanding ability that all Cook Islands Maoris share is music (playing and singing). Close harmony singing is highly developed in church music and the power and emotional impact of chants and hymns at weddings and funerals is well known to visitors. The range and talent of popular singing/singers can be seen at the numerous festivals throughout the year. Each island has its own songs and the various island groups fiercely compete. Numerous Polynesian string bands play at restaurants, hotels, and concerts. They use combinations of modern electronic instruments and traditional ones, including ukuleles fashioned from coconut shells.

Painting, wood carving, basalt, and limestone sculptures are common art forms of the Cook Island Maoris. The distance between the islands likely contributed to slight differences in style, yet there is a cohesiveness of general style. The effects of modernization upon younger generations have deterred them from learning traditional arts. Local Maori are trying to preserve their traditional wood carvings and sculptures. Their crafts also include woven mats, baskets, hats, and decorative trims for hats and clothing. Tivaevae is a patchwork quilt-making skill that was learned from the 19th-century missionaries. In the past, quilt-making was a popular community activity. Maoris sell handmade quilts in fine art galleries and shops.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The dominant religion of the Maoris is Christianity. Missionaries quickly uprooted the traditional worship of tribal gods and idols. The Cook Island Maoris are well-equipped to be Christ’s ambassadors in other locations.


What Are Their Needs?

Discipleship and Scripture-oriented teaching and preaching need to become prominent. Even more so, they must disciple others in Christ’s ways and teach others to do the same.


Prayer Items

Pray for local Cook Island Maori Christ followers to disciple those who are weak in the faith.
Pray for Biblical Christianity to prevail above any other spiritual belief.
Pray for their protection and provision while they engage in spiritual warfare.
Pray for God to raise up Maoris will take the gospel to neighboring islands and into other nations.


Scripture Prayers for the Cook Islands Maori in New Zealand.


References

Wallace Revels
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_Islands_M%C4%81ori
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_people


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Cook Islands Maori
People Name in Country Cook Islands Maori
Alternate Names Atiu; Kuki; Rarotongan
Population this Country 70,000
Population all Countries 86,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11415
ROP3 Code 102284
Country New Zealand
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Oceania
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country New Zealand
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Oceania
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 12.60 %)
96.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
3.00 %
Other / Small
1.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Cook Islands Maori (70,000 speakers)
Language Code rar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Cook Islands Maori (70,000 speakers)
Language Code rar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Cook Islands Maori

Primary Language:  Cook Islands Maori

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1828-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1836)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1851-1972)
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Cook Islands Maori Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Cook Islands Maori YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Cook Islands Maori YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.