Why are there so few written records from early Polynesians/Maoris?

 There are relatively few written records from early Polynesians and Maoris for a number of reasons. One reason is that the Polynesians and Maoris, like many other indigenous cultures around the world, traditionally relied on oral traditions and storytelling to transmit knowledge and cultural practices from one generation to the next. As a result, much of their history and culture was passed down through oral traditions, rather than being recorded in written form.

Another reason why there are few written records from early Polynesians and Maoris is that the Polynesian and Maori societies did not have a system of written language. The Polynesians and Maoris developed complex systems of communication and record-keeping, including the use of symbols and images, but they did not have a system of written language similar to those used in Europe and other parts of the world.

A third reason is that many of the written records that were created by Europeans during the period of European colonization of the Pacific region were lost, destroyed, or not widely distributed. Some of the records that were created by Europeans during this period were biased or incomplete, and they may not accurately reflect the histories and cultures of the Polynesians and Maoris.

Overall, the reasons why there are few written records from early Polynesians and Maoris include the reliance on oral traditions, the absence of a system of written language, and the loss or destruction of records created by Europeans.