How tall were Maori in the old days?

It's impossible to give a definitive answer to how tall Māori were in the "old days" for several reasons:

* Limited historical data: While we have some skeletal remains, there isn't a comprehensive dataset of pre-European contact Māori heights.

* Variability within the population: As with any population, Māori would have had a range of heights, influenced by factors like genetics, nutrition, and health.

* Evolution over time: Human populations evolve, and there may have been changes in average height over time.

However, we can look at some clues:

* Skeletal evidence: Some studies of Māori skeletal remains suggest average heights similar to those of other Polynesian populations. This would be in the range of 165-175 cm (5'5" - 5'9").

* Early European accounts: European explorers and traders who encountered Māori in the 17th and 18th centuries often commented on their height, describing them as "tall" compared to Europeans of the time.

* Modern Māori: While not directly comparable, modern Māori have an average height similar to other Pacific Island populations, typically around 170 cm (5'7").

Therefore, while we can't be exact, it's likely that Māori in the "old days" were generally of average height for Polynesian populations, which is taller than the average European height at that time.