Here's what we know:
* The Māori were the first Polynesian people to settle in New Zealand, arriving around 1280 AD. Before that, New Zealand was uninhabited by humans.
* There is evidence of a small group of people, possibly Polynesian, living in the Chatham Islands, east of New Zealand, before the Māori arrived. They are known as the Moriori and are believed to have arrived around 900 AD.
* There is no evidence of any other human presence in New Zealand before the Māori.
However, there are several theories about possible pre-Māori inhabitants:
* The "Moa Hunter" theory: Some believe there was an earlier wave of Polynesian settlers who arrived before the Māori, and who hunted moa (giant flightless birds) to extinction. However, no conclusive evidence of these people has been found.
* The "Lost Continent of Mu" theory: This is a fictional idea, often associated with the Pacific, and is not supported by scientific evidence.
* Other theories: Some believe in other, potentially more ancient, human presences in New Zealand. These theories are generally speculative and lack evidence.
It's important to note: The current consensus among most historians and archaeologists is that the Māori were the first people to settle in New Zealand. However, further archaeological discoveries could change our understanding of this complex history.