Maori, the indigenous language of New Zealand, has a number of interesting features in its structure. It is also an endangered, minority language, with an important role in the culture and identity of the Maori community. This comprehensive overviewlooks at all aspects of the Maori language: its history, its dialects, its sounds and grammar, its current status, and the efforts being made by the Maori community and the state to ensure its survival. Central chapters provide an overall sketch of the structure of Maori while highlighting those aspects which have been the subject of detailed linguistic analysis – particularly phonology (sound structure) and morphology (word structure), on which extensive linguistic work has been carried out. Though addressed primarily to those with some knowledge of linguistics, this book will interest anyone wishing to study the structure of a minority language, as well as those interested in endangered languages and their preservation