Woman's DNA 'full blooded Maori'

A DNA test appears to have found a woman with 100% Maori DNA.

Oriini Kaipara. Photo: Twitter
Oriini Kaipara. Photo: Twitter

An analysis of the DNA of Oriini Kaipara (33) has shown that, despite her having both Maori and Pakeha ancestry, her genes only contain Maori DNA. That makes her, in her own words, a "full-blooded Maori".

Culturally, people identify as Maori through their whakapapa, while legally a person is defined as Maori if they are of Maori descent, even through one long-distant ancestor.

However, the intermingling of different ethnicities in New Zealand over the past 200 years means all Maori people are thought to have some non-Maori ancestry, so would not be expected to have 100% Maori DNA.

But Ms Kaipara is different. The Native Affairs newsreader has some Pakeha ancestry, but it seems through a series of genetic flukes her parents passed on only the DNA from her Maori ancestors.

Ancestry.com spokesman Brad Argent explained the science behind the test on Native Affairs on Tuesday evening.

He told Ms Kaipara her DNA showed up as 98% Polynesian, which would all be Maori. The remaining 2% appeared to be from Scandinavia and the Caucasus regions around Turkey.

Given she did not have known ancestors from those areas, the 2% was likely to be "noise" rather than an accurate result - meaning she essentially has 100% Maori DNA.

Mr Argent told Ms Kaipara, "What's happened over time is that the genetic material that has been passed down to you, that stuff has just diluted away. In your case, it's led to you being 100 percent Maori."

Ms Kaipara (Tuhoe, Ngati Awa and Ngati Tuwharetoa) sent her DNA away to be analysed last year as part of a segment on identity for the programme and told the New Zealand Herald she was shocked by the result.

"I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is and take the test and see what happens," she said. "I thought as long as I don't get a result that's less than 80 percent I'll be happy".

Mr Argent cautioned that DNA was "just one tiny part of who we are as people" and her siblings would probably have a different result.

"So, when you're getting a genetic result it's important to remember that. It doesn't define who you are".

While Mr Argent said the result was unique, he encouraged more Maori to take the test as he believed other people with 100% Maori DNA could be found.

Comments

This type of DNA tracing a lot depends on the interpretation of the DNA findings .
another expert may find different.

As pointed out, DNA, cells, blood type or skin colour do not define who a person is.

Nevertheless, being 100% i.d genomed leaves her in no doubt as to ancestral origin: this part of the world.

Matter of interpretation.