Māori is the language traditionally spoken by the Māori people of New Zealand.
Māori is an Eastern Polynesian language whose closest relatives include Cook Islands Māori and Tahitian. Polynesian settlers carried ancestral forms of the language to Aotearoa, where it developed separately over centuries. Māori oral traditions, songs, genealogies, and place names preserve a large body of cultural knowledge.
The language was once spoken throughout Māori communities, but English became dominant after European colonization and schooling policies. By the late 20th century, Māori had become endangered. Community-led revitalization created kōhanga reo preschools, kura kaupapa Māori schools, immersion broadcasting, and expanded adult-learning programs.
Māori has official status in New Zealand, but legal recognition and everyday use are different issues: English remains more widely spoken. The macron in words such as Māori marks a long vowel and can distinguish pronunciation and meaning.