Māori identity
In Māori mythology, the indigenous faith carried largely unchanged to Aotearoa from the tropical Eastern Polynesian homeland Hawaiki Nui.Tangihanga (mourning ceremonies) or native funeral rituals,[6] as well as tangata whenua (people of the land) are both strongly linked with the concept of Māori identity.[8] Auckland Council have also stated that both kaumātua and kuia (male and female tribal elders) are crucial to the "matauranga and tikanga that underpins Māori identity".[15] In 2015, The Guardian covered a crisis of Māori incarceration and identity in relation to the New Zealand prison system.Toby Manhire reported: While those who identify as Māori make up about 15% of the New Zealand population, the corresponding figure behind bars is more than 50%.