Māori is the indigenous language of New Zealand. Like all languages, it is in some respects unique, and in others quite typical. It is a member of one of the largest language families in the world, was brought to New Zealand by Polynesian voyagers, and so shares features with other members of its family. However, it has also its own history through its isolation in the most southerly regions of the South Pacific. Like many other minority languages, it has suffered through contact and competition with a major language, and its present situation and the issues involved in attempts to ensure its survival and revitalisation thus show similarities with those affecting many other languages around the world. At the same time, the circumstances surrounding all such disadvantaged languages are not identical, and there are unique aspects, and unique responses, to the place of Māori in New Zealand society.

In this book, aspects of Māori, its history, structure and present sociolinguistic situation, will be discussed in a way which is intended to provide the general reader with a good overview. In addition, however, the book aims to provide discussion of, and full bibliographical references for, the now considerable body of literature which exists on Māori. Some of this discussion will necessitate use of the technical apparatus of modern linguistics, which may make some sections rather less accessible to readers other than professional linguists and senior students of the subject.