New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute master carver James Rickard with the tekoteko gifted to the Tongva first nations community of Los Angeles. Photo / Supplied A ceremonial gifting has ...

Traditionally, it would be awarded only to people from the upper echelons of Maori society, or given as a gift to people from outside the community if they were thought to be of equally high standing.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Indigenous Maori are demanding gifts as recognition of the role one of their ancestors -- a mountain -- is playing in a Tom Cruise movie being shot in New Zealand.