lol. lmao, even.

The Polynesians were conquered relatively quickly wherever they were encountered, and the New Zealand Wars of the mid-19th century were as lopsided and as indolent as such things get.

The “great warrior races” label is one that the English habitually bestow upon races they’ve conquered and subjugated, as a sort of face-saving measure or consolation prize. (And in the hopes that it gets them on-side, see e.g. the Gurkhas.) It’s kayfabe; it’s not real; if anything those “warrior races” are the opposite: Losers, victims, the defeated, with nothing left but their wounded pride.

In truth, the warrior race of the region is the Papuan. You could have a chad Papuan vs. virgin Polynesian meme. The Papuans of the highlands were usually considered too dangerous, and too numerous, to bother with — and whereas the Polynesians have all submitted to modern life, Papuans still live barefoot in the world’s wildest jungle.