The Maori were the most warlike Polynesians. Villages were built on hilltops or ridges for defense, and elaborately fortified with ditches and palisades. Attacking parties carried on regular siege operations in which cannibalism was a regular practice. The flesh of slain enemies was an important part of the spoil after a successful battle; captives, regardless of age or sex, were usually eaten. The ultimate insult was to cook an enemy and then discard him as unfit for food. The relatives of a man who had been eaten were under a revenge obligation until the account could be squared.

      As a result of the migration of Polynesians to New Zealand, Maori art may be considered the product of a tropical island culture adapted to meet the needs of a comparatively cold climate. The necessity for warm dwellings, garments, food stores, and canoes called for the evolution of new art types. The unusual wealth of materials available, including wood, stone, and bone, combined with centuries of cultural isolation, fostered a rich art tradition.

      Woodcarving was undertaken only by men in Maori society, while women were allowed to work only with soft materials, as they were considered the destroyers of "tapu", taboo. Women were not even allowed in the vicinity while the sacred business of house building, canoe making or other ritualistic work was in progress. A skilled artisan was considered a priest; whose art was believed to be a dangerous field in which personal behavior was important, for any infringement of the laws of the craft could bring loss of knowledge (or worse). An infringement, such as an omission in a ritual chant, would have dangerous consequences.

      According to Maori tradition, the origin of wood carvers "whakairo rakau", is attributed to the divine Rua, who personified many of the arts. It was believed that Rua once paid a visit to Tangaroa, son of the primeval parents Rangi, sky, and Papa, earth, and ruler of the oceans, to inspect a house Tangaroa had just completed. Rua was surprised to find that it was decorated only with painted designs, so he invited Tangaroa to visit his house to see a superior method of adornment. Tangoroa was so deceived by the carved images of Rua's that he walked up to them and pressed noses in the Maori manner of greeting. Rua was so delighted with this piece of deception that he shouted, "Now you see what wood carving is. You thought that my wood images were men."