Maori navigation techniques

Maori navigation techniques, known as wayfinding, rely on a sophisticated understanding of natural cues. Navigators used observations of the stars, ocean currents, wind patterns, bird behavior, and wave formations to traverse vast distances across the Pacific. They memorized the position of stars and their movements around the horizon, which shifted with seasons. By combining these environmental signs with oral knowledge of their surroundings and ship handling skills, Maori voyagers could travel accurately without modern instruments, enabling them to discover and settle distant islands with impressive precision.