Samples the Maori port (7)

I believe the answer is:

trieste

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'port' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'samples the maori' is the wordplay.
'samples' becomes 'tries' ('try' can be a synonym of 'sample').
'the maori' becomes 'te' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'tries'+'te'='TRIESTE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for trieste that I've seen before include "somewhere in Italy" , "Italian seaport" , "European city" , "Italian city, James Joyce's 13" , "Italy port, near Slovenia" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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