The New Zealand colonisers before the arrival of any European Explorers were Peoples that had left their home islands somewhere in the South Pacific, probably around 1070AD. Now the word, or name, Maori, was used by these settlers to describe the Peoples they found in New Zealand when they arrived in 1070 AD. OK. So who were these people? And from whence did they come? And how long had they been in New Zealand before the arrival of the Polonesians.? Can it be proven that an earlier Culture existed in New Zealand, say by any artifacts, burials, customs taken up by the Polonesians or inter-marriage? Maybe the Hill Forts built by the Polonesian Peoples were first constructed to resist attacks from the Maori, or, the first Peoples? Where did I get this Thread from? Looking at Google sites, evaluating the information contained therein, some History from early New Zealand sources-- everything seems to suggest that the jury is still out on this one. westwind.