Prelims Focus 14th July 2026
Māori community
In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a spectacular traditional welcome in Auckland, New Zealand. Members of the indigenous Māori community performed the iconic Haka dance. This historic ceremony marked the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island nation in 40 years.
The Pōwhiri and Haka
The welcome was part of a traditional ceremonial welcome called a pōwhiri at the Government House. It began with the powerful Haka dance. The Haka is a ceremonial dance that uses rhythmic body movements, loud chanting, and foot-stomping. It is used to show deep respect, strength, and unity. During the ceremony, local hosts also offered the traditional hongi, a symbolic pressing of noses to honor the visiting leader.
About the Maori Tribe
The Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, having settled the islands over 700 years ago. Their rich culture, distinct language, and powerful traditions form a core pillar of New Zealand’s national identity today.
Origins and History
- Polynesian Voyages: Ancestors of the Māori arrived in New Zealand (Aotearoa) in waves of canoe voyages between 1200 and 1300 AD.
- The Treaty of Waitangi: Signed in 1840 between Māori chiefs and the British Crown, this founding document established British law while promising to protect Māori land and rights.
Long March 10B
In News: China successfully completed its first-ever controlled orbital-class rocket recovery when the Long March 10B booster made a precise, sea-based landing. Launched from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, the booster used engines and aerodynamic controls to guide itself back, where specialized hooks caught it in a floating net.
Key Highlights
- The Mission: The Long March 10B took off and deployed its payload into orbit. About six minutes later, the first-stage booster returned for a vertical recovery in the South China Sea.
- The Technology: Instead of landing legs, China used a world-first net-capture system. Tensioned cables and hooks on the recovery vessel snared the booster to protect it from harsh maritime conditions.
- Why It Matters: Mastering reusability drastically reduces the cost of getting to space. It is a massive step for China’s expanding commercial satellite constellations. It also serves to test tech for upcoming crewed lunar missions before 2030.
- Global Standing: This historic breakthrough makes China the second country (after the US) to successfully recover an orbital-class booster.
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