The Maero of Māori tradition

Record summary

Maero or maeroero appear in Māori traditions as wild, powerful or dangerous beings associated with remote landscapes, forests and mountains. Their characterization varies, and later English-language accounts sometimes merge them with patupaiarehe, giants or generic ‘wild men.’ The lead can support comparison of wilderness beings, boundary-making and oral-history transmission while preserving the distinction between local Māori categories. Researchers should locate the particular iwi, text or field recording behind each version. Modern cryptid interpretations are not equivalent to the traditional narratives and require separate treatment.