Abstract:
Māori builders are inheritors of a long tradition of architectural knowledge first brought to Aotearoa (New Zealand) by their Polynesian ancestors. The techniques and tools have their origins in the maritime and architectural technologies developed to inhabit the islands and navigate the seas of Oceania. Confronted with a new environment, ranging from the subtropics in the north and alpine regions of the south, Māori builders developed new construction materials, techniques, and tools that were socially and climatically responsive. This chapter will describe this knowledge and innovation, and demonstrate how they were both a tectonic solution to environmental constraints and an expression of Māori cosmologies and spirituality.