Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Botanical evidence linking the New Zealand Maoris with New Caledonia and the New Hebrides

Abstract

TRADITIONAL history of the Maoris tells of repeated voyages between Hawaiki, their mythical homeland, and Aotearoa (New Zealand), culminating in a considerable migration about AD 1350 dated by genealogies. One canoe is said to have brought seed of the karaka tree which was a useful subsidiary, food source. I report here that examination of the distribution and relationships of this tree suggests New Caledonia and/or the New Hebrides as the possible Hawaiki from which this late migration originated.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allan, H. H. Flora of New Zealand, Vol. 1 (Government Printer, Wellington, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bell, M. E. N.Z. J. Sci. 17, 327–334 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Buck, Sir peter The Coming of the Maori (Whitcombe and Tombs, Wellington, 1949).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cockayne, L. The Vegetation of New Zealand (Cramer, London, 1958).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Connor, H. E. The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand (Government Printer, Wellington, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Davis, D. We, the Navigators (Reed, Wellington, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Duff, R. The Moa-hunter Period of Maori Culture (Government Printer, Wellington, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Finney, B. R. Navigation and Voyaging (Polynesian Soc. Memoir 39, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gowers, S. Some Common Trees of the New Hebrides and Their Vernacular Names (Department of Agriculture, Port Vila, New Hebrides, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Green, R. C. in Biogeography and Ecology in New Zealand (Junk, The Hague, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Grey, Sir George Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race as Furnished by their Priests and Chiefs (Brett, Auckland, 1885).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hemsley, W. B. Ann. Bot. 17, 743–760 (1903).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mitcalfe, B. N.Z. Archaeol. Newsl. 12, 184–188 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Smith, L. S. Proc. R. Soc. Qd 67, 31 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sykes, W. R. Kermadec Island Flora (D.S.I.R. Bull., Wellington, 1977).

  16. Yen, D. E. Bish. Mus. Bull. 236 (1974).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

STEVENSON, G. Botanical evidence linking the New Zealand Maoris with New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. Nature 276, 704–705 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/276704a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/276704a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing