Colonisation - a series of European countries sailing out, over many centuries, from their own homes to invade and conquer other lands in order to enrich the already rich, and to "civilise" whoever they found living there.

Here in AoNZ the local people, collectively called Māori, initially welcomed the Europeans, the English. They even signed a Treaty that allowed these immigrants to stay on their lands in return for being treated as any British Subject would be.

This wasn't how it played out but that's not for this article.

Māori are, like anyone that says they are from "the UK", one people but separate. Iwi is akin to Scottish clan. Each iwi has it's own homeland, it's place inside what we now call Aotearoa New Zealand.

Each of these places have names, of course they do, be mad not to eh.

So, if you're in AoNZ, do you know the first (not the last, not the most common) name of the land you're currently standing on?

Nope, nor me.

"But Mike, I'm not in New Zealand, What's this got to do with me?"

Are you in Australia, or the US, Africa, north Russia, Canada, the Carribbean, or South America? If so, there's names for you as well.

So what's the do? Just learn the name of the land you stand upon and the name of those that were their before colonisation. Seems only fair eh.


Screenshot of Native Land Digital on a mobile phone, mostly showing the north island of Aotearoa New Zealand
Native Land Digital honors the sovereignty of all Indigenous nations, their lands, and their waters. We recognize that these boundaries and territories are representations of the sacred.

We respect the rights of Indigenous data sovereignty, and we are committed to an ongoing process of collaboration, growth, and learning.

We work to update and replace information that is a continuation of trauma caused by theft, injustice, misinformation, and ignorance.

The map is a living document, informed by the contributions of Indigenous communities, Indigenous knowledge holders and their stories. It does not claim to represent official or legal boundaries. We encourage you to connect directly with the Indigenous nations to learn more about their territories and histories.

This is an honouring of Indigenous resilience past, present and future.

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