Summary: Few people know that there are two kinds of Maori music. The kind with which most people are familiar - known as Action Song - dates from perhaps the first or second decade of this century. In its present form it is little more than a Maorified form of Western popular music. The other kind of Maori music has a long tradition dating back to the beginnings of the Maori people. Even today it remains associated with the old values and institutions of Maoridom. It exhibits, in consequence, great tenacity of style. It is with the older form of music that this thesis is concerned. Since, so far as the writer is aware, there is no generally accepted name which incorporates the whole of the older song tradition, it will be called here Maori chant. This term is used as inclusive of waiata, patere, pao, and all the other forms discussed. It is used in preference to the term Maori song which could also include Action Song.