Detail of a wharenui, a communal house of the Māori people, in Rotorua

The Māori are an indigenous people of New Zealand who trace their origins back to eastern Polynesian settlers. Carved figures such as the one in this picture can be found on meeting houses in a Māori marae. A marae is a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes. These figures usually represents a particular ancestor of the tribe.

Learn more about the Maori on Motiti Island.