Abstract:
Investigations of the meeting house by scholary research and archeological excavations have together enlightened our understanding of its origins. New Zealands geographical location and its natural environment have influenced and shaped the Maori culture and later, so did the arrival of the European. Field studies of several meeting houses from the 1880's to the late 1980' explain to some extent what effect the European has had on the Maori culture. The changes of materials used in the meeting house reflects environmental and cultural changes. A measure of these changes may help to ascertain its impact.
