I'm intrigued by EM Izett's bold and unusual claims in his letter published 27 August in The Weekend Sun. He cites an alternative history of migration of the Moriori, and how they reached Aotearoa '100 years before Maori arrived.”
What evidence is there to support these claims?
The Moriori language was Polynesian and, despite differences in pronunciation, shared many words with Maori and no other languages. Their features were Polynesian and their skulls revealed the classic Polynesian ‘rocker' jawbone. They used the same tools as East Polynesian and Maori, and some of the tools found were made of obsidian and argillite (from New Zealand).
The evidence suggests that Moriori were descended from a Maori tribe who, for whatever reasons, emigrated from New Zealand to the Chatham Islands C. 1300-1400, and were not ‘rediscovered' until the 1900s. Indeed, the word ‘Moriori' is a dialectal version of the word ‘Maori.'
I would ask that EM Izett produce some verifiable evidence that backs his claims. By writing in this manner, he is in danger of misleading the public.
AA McKenzie, Tauranga.