Scary Maori warrior during a dance routine. Although peaceful now, a long time ago when the Europeans first came to New Zealand some of the Maori people were actually cannibals. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman briefly sailed along the west coast of New Zealand; he did not stay very long because several of his crew were killed and eaten. The dancing and sticking out of the tounges is meant to be intimidating....until you earn their respect.