Push/Pull Māori

Why Aotearoa? Pull Factors

When we think of tropical island holidays, we might wonder why Māori would want to settle in Aotearoa New Zealand! But to Māori people there were many benefits to our damper, cooler country, which made it an ideal place to live. 

1. New Zealand is huge compared to many Pacific Islands

2. New Zealand is resource rich- massive trees, a lot of rock (tool making), volcanic soil (compare this to atolls which may not have much soil at all!), fish, birds and the opportunity for farming was seen as something incredible.

3. The coastline has many spots for safe harbouring of waka

1.  What reason is given for Kupe's people to migrate in this legend?

2. What did Kupe discover in Aotearoa? What might have been appealing about Aotearoa?