Māori World Lecture 6

Introduction

The speaker begins by introducing themselves as Paola, a member of the Ngati Kahungunu tribe on their father's side and Ngati Porou Tutoru from the East Coast on their mother's side. They reference their ancestry, including Te Whachiyaapiti, an esteemed warrior from around 500 years ago, and Paikia, an ancestor who supposedly arrived in Aotearoa on the back of a whale, famously represented in the film "Whale Rider."

Urban Māori Drift

Paola discusses the cultural and socioeconomic implications of the 1960s urban drift, where many Māori families moved away from their traditional homelands seeking opportunities in cities. They explain their upbringing in West Auckland and current role as a teacher in Māori studies, specializing in Kapa Haka, Māori weaponry, and traditional performing arts.

Experience in Kapa Haka

Paola shares an extensive background in Kapa Haka, having performed for over thirty years and led a group called Teropu Manutaki. Their judging experience includes primary and secondary school Nationals and work with various professional Māori sports teams like the All Blacks. They emphasize the importance of promoting Māori culture globally, citing their travels to countries such as Japan, China, Russia, and Hawaii.

Overview of Kapa Haka

The focus of today's discussion is Kapa Haka, a traditional and contemporary Māori performing art. Paola encourages audience engagement by asking who has performed Kapa Haka before, noting a significant increase in participation over the past forty years compared to prior years when such performances were less common.

Historical Context

Paola references Valens Smith's reading on the evolution of Kapa Haka over hundreds of years, discussing

  • Traditional expressions of Haka and Pui in Māori society versus current interpretations.

  • The effects of colonization, particularly the role of missionaries who labeled traditional Māori practices as barbaric and induced a shift towards Christian hymns and prayers.

  • The transformation of Māori performing arts into a form of entertainment, especially post-20th century, which led to Māori cultural groups gaining recognition abroad.

Impact of Urban Drift

The urban drift resulted in cultural groups representing multiple tribes for the first time, significantly changing the dynamics within Kapa Haka and contributing to the growth of national competitions such as Te Matatini, held every two years.

Te Matatini

Paola elaborates on Te Matatini, the national Kapa Haka competition:

  • Held every two years at various venues throughout New Zealand and Australia.

  • Each region has its own competitions, with the number of qualifying groups for Nationals dependent on regional participation.

  • The significance and prestige associated with winning Te Matatini.

  • The 2022 competition held at Eden Park, noting the extensive preparation affected by COVID-19.

Structure of Kapa Haka Performance

Paola introduces the audience to the components of a Kapa Haka performance, detailing the six aggregate items that must be included:

  1. Whaka Eke - Entry onto the stage, can incorporate singing, traditional chants, haka, and weaponry, symbolizing the entry into Marae.

  2. Moteteia - Traditional chant performed without choreography to convey deep cultural meanings.

  3. Waitaraoadinga - A contemporary action song with synchronized actions reflecting the song's theme, originating around World War I.

  4. Poi - A performance using balls attached to strings, traditionally associated with women's performances and celebrating grace.

  5. Haka - The iconic Māori war dance used for various purposes, not just in warfare; it expresses commitment, pride, and can be used in celebrations connected to Māori culture.

  6. Whakawatia - The closing item of the performance, again allowing for creativity in exit choreography.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

Paola emphasizes the historical significance of Kapa Haka as a manifestation of Māori identity through storytelling and connecting to ancestral narratives. They share personal insights on the importance of understanding Kapa Haka's history, context, and connection to wider Māori culture.

Language and Linguistics

In transitioning to a discussion on the Māori language, Ake, a colleague and linguist, addresses the relationship between language, culture, and revitalization efforts.

Whakapapa of Māori Language

  • Ake explains that languages, like people, have genealogies (whakapapa) and how they intersect with the linguistic studies conducted to understand indigenous languages.

  • Māori is categorized within the larger Austronesian language family, which includes languages spoken across the Pacific.

  • The historical migration of Austronesian peoples and their cultural exchanges are illustrated, including connections to Madagascar and South America.

Language Revitalization

Ake discusses efforts surrounding language revitalization and the importance of intergenerational transmission, focusing on the impact of social and political situations on language use. They highlight the historical attempts at linguicide and the vital role of initiatives like Kohanga Reo (language nests) in revitalizing Māori language and culture.

Challenges and Future Directions

  • A continued discussion on the challenges faced in the Māori language revitalization process, including societal pressures, educational inadequacies, and the need for institutional support.

  • Ake emphasizes that despite past setbacks, Māori remains the second most widely spoken language in Aotearoa, with a call for action during the political climate to support language learning and cultural identity.

Conclusion

The session concludes with a call to engage with Kapa Haka performances, continuing to develop not just as performers but as stewards of Māori culture, while encouraging all participants to collaborate in leadership roles for future generations. A sense of unity, respect, and shared identity is fostered, alluding to the ongoing journey in language revitalization and cultural expression.