Aborigine-Maori Comparisons

Aborigine-Maori Comparisons*

Area of Comparison	Aborigine	Maori
Environment	vast, flat, arid	small, rugged, fertile
Prehistory	direct from S.E. Asia; extremely slow cultural evolution	direct from Polynesia; rapid cultural evolution
Population	300,000 low density	100-120,000 high density
Sociopolitical Organisation	little or no social stratification; little authority from above, no paramount chiefs; status from age and knowledge	stratified social hierarchy; more authority from above, paramount chiefs; status from birth, knowledge, achievements, and wealth
Economic Activity	non-acquisitive, non-materialistic; nomadic hunters and gatherers	acquisitive, materialistic; domesticators and gardeners
Languages	200+ languages/dialects	one language
Comparisons based on K.R. Howe, Race Relations: Australia and New Zealand*