AHC: Mauri to Maori

the Mauri were the ancient dwellers of Mauritania during roman times and the predecessors of the moors. The Maori are a wholly unrelated people who migrated from Polynesia to new Zealand in the 12th century, and are the area's native settlers. your goal is to have to two groups - similar in name only - meet in any meaningful way. how is this possible and what would be the reaction of each side to the other?
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
I could think of some Mega-Empire that would be needed to do this. Rome or Parthian or Greek empire is the best candidate I have if you want them to meet in the antiquity. Then even the Islamic Golden age could achieve this contact in a Medieval POD.
 
Europeanised Mauri empire (probably called Mauritania) follows the route of Portugal OTL and goes to the Indies. They colonise South Africa and then Western Australia eventually get a desire to rule the entire South Seas for whatever reason (controlling the Clipper Route/Brouwer Route, I suppose). This leads them to the rest of Australia, and then perhaps sometime around the 17th century, you have the Mauri meeting the Maori as they trade with and attempt to settle New Zealand.

Relations are probably not bound to be too well.
 
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