The inflection-derivation divide in Maori and its implications

This paper considers the application of the categories of inflection and derivation to the morphology of New Zealand Maori. It is shown that the categories as they are usually defined do not fit well with the facts about Maori. Nevertheless, a case can be made for an inflection-derivation divide in Maori. However, if this division is made as proposed in the paper, it has wider typological implications which need to be considered. In particular it re-opens the debate on defining heads by their position in the word.