What food did maori people eat?

The Māori diet was incredibly diverse and varied depending on the region, season, and available resources. Here's a breakdown:

Food Sources:

* Seafood: A major component of the diet, including fish, shellfish, seabirds, seals, and whales. Techniques included fishing with nets, lines, and spears, as well as gathering shellfish on the shore.

* Foraging & Gathering:

* Plants: They gathered a wide variety of native plants, including ferns, roots, berries, and edible fungi.

* Birds: They hunted birds, including moa (extinct), kiwi, and other native species.

* Insects: Grubs and other insects were also consumed.

* Farming:

* Cultivated foods: The Māori cultivated kumara (sweet potato), taro, and other Polynesian crops, introducing these to New Zealand.

* Domesticated animals: They raised pigs and dogs for meat.

* Hunting: They hunted wild animals such as birds, fish, and occasionally deer, using traps, snares, and bows and arrows.

Food Preparation:

* Cooking: Māori used a variety of cooking methods, including roasting, steaming, boiling, and baking in earth ovens called "hangi."

* Preservation: They used techniques like drying, smoking, and salting to preserve food for later consumption.

Traditional Foods:

* Hangi: A traditional Māori dish cooked in an underground oven. Various ingredients, including meats, fish, vegetables, and sweet potatoes, are cooked in layers of hot stones and covered with earth.

* Kumara: A staple food that was cultivated and eaten in various ways, including roasted, boiled, and baked.

* Fish: Various types of fish were caught and eaten, such as tuna, snapper, and kahawai.

* Shellfish: A variety of shellfish, such as mussels, oysters, and paua, were gathered from the coast.

* Taro: Another staple food, cultivated and eaten in various ways, including boiled, steamed, and baked.

* Fern roots: Eaten after being cooked and can be used in soups or as a side dish.

* Birds: Various native birds were hunted and eaten, including moa (extinct), kiwi, and other species.

* Insects: Certain types of grubs were considered a delicacy.

Importance of Food in Māori Culture:

Food was deeply intertwined with Māori culture and tradition. It played a vital role in rituals, ceremonies, and gatherings. Food was also used as a symbol of hospitality and generosity. The Māori belief system emphasized the importance of respecting and preserving the natural resources that provided their sustenance.

Modern Māori Diet:

Today, the Māori diet is influenced by Western food traditions, with many Māori adopting a mixed diet of both traditional and modern foods. However, there is a growing movement to reclaim and revitalize traditional Māori foodways, recognizing their cultural and nutritional significance.