Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography, & More · Gary Arndt

Maori Settlement of New Zealand: How Polynesians Reached Aotearoa

March 20, 2026·15 min·1 clip

How did Polynesian mariners use stars and ocean swells to navigate thousands of miles to New Zealand in the 13th century?

This episode explores the Maori settlement of New Zealand in the 13th century, detailing their incredible Polynesian navigation skills using stars and ocean swells. It covers their adaptation to the new environment, including the extinction of the moa bird, and their later encounters with Europeans, leading to conflicts like the New Zealand Wars and the Treaty of Waitangi.

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