title: Iwi sex ratios in the New Zealand population census: Why are women so dominant?

authors: Kukutai, Tahu

abstract: Recent census-based studies of iwi (tribal) population growth have revealed a high degree of volatility that cannot be explained by demographic factors alone. Although focused on a small number of iwi, these studies have shown that changing patterns of identification are an important driver of iwi population growth, and that the propensity to identify with an iwi appears to be much stronger among Māori women than men. Thus, the vast majority of iwi in the census have far more females than males, and female domination has increased over time. This paper describes the key features of female-favoured iwi sex ratios in the census and explores possible explanations. Focusing on sex ratios for the ten largest iwi, we find that female domination is highest in the 25–44 age group, and that this pattern is consistent over time. Further analysis shows that Māori women aged 25–34 years are more likely than their male counterparts to know detailed aspects of their pepeha (tribal identity), to explore whakapapa (genealogy) and to speak te reo Māori. Our results underscore the importance of Māori women as cultural connectors within their whānau, as well as in a broader iwi context.

text: Iwi sex ratios in the New Zealand population census: Why are women so dominant? Recent census-based studies of iwi (tribal) population growth have revealed a high degree of volatility that cannot be explained by demographic factors alone. Although focused on a small number of iwi, these studies have shown that changing patterns of identification are an important driver of iwi population growth, and that the propensity to identify with an iwi appears to be much stronger among Māori women than men. Thus, the vast majority of iwi in the census have far more females than males, and female domination has increased over time. This paper describes the key features of female-favoured iwi sex ratios in the census and explores possible explanations. Focusing on sex ratios for the ten largest iwi, we find that female domination is highest in the 25–44 age group, and that this pattern is consistent over time. Further analysis shows that Māori women aged 25–34 years are more likely than their male counterparts to know detailed aspects of their pepeha (tribal identity), to explore whakapapa (genealogy) and to speak te reo Māori. Our results underscore the importance of Māori women as cultural connectors within their whānau, as well as in a broader iwi context.

year: 2017

title: Te Whānau Mārama

authors: Tuahine, Hōhepa

subjects: Whānau mārama

abstract: Ko te rā, ko te marama, ko te whetū, ko te auahitūroa, ko te kōtiritiri anō i tapaina e te Māori ko te Whānau Mārama.  Ko te whānau nei ka heke i a Tangotango rāua ko Wainui, he tamariki nā Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku, he atua. I whakaako motuhaketia ngā āhuatanga katoa o te Whānau Mārama ki te whare kōkōrangi.  Ko ana whakapapa, ko ana karakia, ko ana waiata, ko ana whakataukī maha.  Ko ngā kai mārō o taua whare wānanga e hoki ana ki te orokotīmatanga mai o Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku, heke iho mai ki te tangata me te ao tūroa e mōhiotia ana i tēnei rangi.  He tipua ngā tohunga o te whare kōkōrangi ki te whakamāori i ngā nekehanga me ngā āhuatanga rere kē o te Whānau Mārama nei.  Ka nui ngā tohutohu a te Whānau Mārama e tōnui ai te noho a te Māori ki te whenua.  Heoi anō, kei te āhua tonu o tā te whetū nekehanga i te rangi, kei te āhua tonu o tōna hikohiko mai, otirā kei te āhua tonu o tā te Whānau Mārama taunekeneke atu, taunekeneke mai ki a rātau anō.  Katoa ngā āhuatanga o te Whānau Mārama he mea hei ārahi i te Māori, me te aha, ko ngā mātauranga o te whare nei hei kāpehu ki te tohunga whakatere waka, hei tohu nō Tū ki te ope tauā, hei maramataka ki te ihu oneone, hei kai mārō ki te tauira, hei aha noa atu.  Ko tā tēnei tuhinga, he tūhura i ngā kōrero mō te Whānau Mārama me tana whare wānanga.  Ka titiro ki ngā kōrero kua whakamoanahia i roto i ngā tau maha me te whakamārama i te whakamahia o tēnei mātauranga e kui mā, e koro mā i te wā i a rātau.

text: Te Whānau Mārama Ko te rā, ko te marama, ko te whetū, ko te auahitūroa, ko te kōtiritiri anō i tapaina e te Māori ko te Whānau Mārama.  Ko te whānau nei ka heke i a Tangotango rāua ko Wainui, he tamariki nā Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku, he atua. I whakaako motuhaketia ngā āhuatanga katoa o te Whānau Mārama ki te whare kōkōrangi.  Ko ana whakapapa, ko ana karakia, ko ana waiata, ko ana whakataukī maha.  Ko ngā kai mārō o taua whare wānanga e hoki ana ki te orokotīmatanga mai o Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku, heke iho mai ki te tangata me te ao tūroa e mōhiotia ana i tēnei rangi.  He tipua ngā tohunga o te whare kōkōrangi ki te whakamāori i ngā nekehanga me ngā āhuatanga rere kē o te Whānau Mārama nei.  Ka nui ngā tohutohu a te Whānau Mārama e tōnui ai te noho a te Māori ki te whenua.  Heoi anō, kei te āhua tonu o tā te whetū nekehanga i te rangi, kei te āhua tonu o tōna hikohiko mai, otirā kei te āhua tonu o tā te Whānau Mārama taunekeneke atu, taunekeneke mai ki a rātau anō.  Katoa ngā āhuatanga o te Whānau Mārama he mea hei ārahi i te Māori, me te aha, ko ngā mātauranga o te whare nei hei kāpehu ki te tohunga whakatere waka, hei tohu nō Tū ki te ope tauā, hei maramataka ki te ihu oneone, hei kai mārō ki te tauira, hei aha noa atu.  Ko tā tēnei tuhinga, he tūhura i ngā kōrero mō te Whānau Mārama me tana whare wānanga.  Ka titiro ki ngā kōrero kua whakamoanahia i roto i ngā tau maha me te whakamārama i te whakamahia o tēnei mātauranga e kui mā, e koro mā i te wā i a rātau.

year: 2016

title: The effect of climate and environmental change on the megafaunal moa of New Zealand in the absence of humans

authors: Rawlence, Nicolas J.

subjects: ancient DNA

abstract: New Zealand offers a unique opportunity to investigate the response of extinct megafaunal ecosystems to major changes in climate and habitat prior to human settlement. Prior to this point (late 13th Century AD) New Zealand contained a diverse avian megafauna dominated by nine species of large flightless ratite moa (Dinornithiformes). We used ancient DNA approaches to generate mitochondrial DNA sequence data from 39 crested moa (Pachyornis australis) and 145 heavy-footed moa (Pachyornis elephantopus) specimens. In combination with radiocarbon dating and dietary isotope analysis we examined the effects of Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate and environmental change on the phylogeography, palaeodemographics, and eventual extinction of Pachyornis. We show that Pachyornis changed altitudinal, longitudinal and latitudinal ranges through the Late Quaternary in response to alterations in the distribution of suitable habitat. However, we found no evidence for large-scale change in population sizes during the past 40,000 radiocarbon years BP (approximately 44,000 calendar years BP), or significant changes in δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N isotope signatures over this time period. The results suggest that crested moa tracked habitat through time with little consequence to population size. For the more broadly distributed heavy-footed moa, changes in climate and habitat distribution may have promoted phylogeographic structuring. Overall this study suggests that the likelihood of megafaunal extinction in New Zealand was greatly reduced in the absence of humans.

text: The effect of climate and environmental change on the megafaunal moa of New Zealand in the absence of humans New Zealand offers a unique opportunity to investigate the response of extinct megafaunal ecosystems to major changes in climate and habitat prior to human settlement. Prior to this point (late 13th Century AD) New Zealand contained a diverse avian megafauna dominated by nine species of large flightless ratite moa (Dinornithiformes). We used ancient DNA approaches to generate mitochondrial DNA sequence data from 39 crested moa (Pachyornis australis) and 145 heavy-footed moa (Pachyornis elephantopus) specimens. In combination with radiocarbon dating and dietary isotope analysis we examined the effects of Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate and environmental change on the phylogeography, palaeodemographics, and eventual extinction of Pachyornis. We show that Pachyornis changed altitudinal, longitudinal and latitudinal ranges through the Late Quaternary in response to alterations in the distribution of suitable habitat. However, we found no evidence for large-scale change in population sizes during the past 40,000 radiocarbon years BP (approximately 44,000 calendar years BP), or significant changes in δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N isotope signatures over this time period. The results suggest that crested moa tracked habitat through time with little consequence to population size. For the more broadly distributed heavy-footed moa, changes in climate and habitat distribution may have promoted phylogeographic structuring. Overall this study suggests that the likelihood of megafaunal extinction in New Zealand was greatly reduced in the absence of humans.

year: 2012