Arrival of the Māori in New Zealand

Timeline

1. c. 1200–1205East coast of the North Island · North IslandPolynesian navigators sailed from Eastern Polynesia (possibly via the Society or Cook Islands) and established the first camps on the east coast of the North Island; they brought dogs, rats, and seeds of cultivated plants, quickly adapting to the temperate environment.
2. c. 1205–1250Interior and coast of the North Island · North IslandMigrants developed horticultural agriculture in river valleys and along the coast, hunting large birds such as the moa; tribal (iwi) and hapū social structures gradually took shape, and defensive pā fortifications began to appear.
3. c. 1250–1300South Island · South IslandPopulation spread to the South Island, developing pounamu (greenstone) quarrying and trade networks; the Māori language, mythological system, and craft traditions took shape in the New Zealand environment, forming a distinct Māori cultural identity.