Maori Terms Flashcards
Hawaiki
homeland of all the polynesian people & also spiritual homeland where maori return to die. Hawaiki is used to refer to the last homeland and not a specific island.
Maori
- Modern term we chose to distinguish ourselves from eauropeans during the contact period
- Maori means normal, common, ordinary, everyday e.g. Freshwater is called wai maori
- Term is shared by other eastern polynesian people e.g. NZ = tangata maori, Hawai’i = kanaka maoli etc.
It is a binary term or oppositional term, it is useful in distinguishing maori from non-maori (but in Maori world whanau, hapu, iwi and waka define your identity).
Whanau
extended family
Hapu
groups of whanau who claim descent from a common ancestor
- primary political, economic and social unit in maori society
Iwi
groups of hapu who all claim descent from a founding ancestor
Waka
maori canoe
Rohe
- Rohe are the geographic regions and landscapes inhabited by whanau, hapu, iwi and waka
Aotearoa, Te Ika a Maui
North Island
Te Waipounamu, Te Waka a Maui, Te Waka a Aoraki
South Island
Rekohu, Wharekauri
Chatham Islands
Rakiura
Stewart Island
Pepeha
- Formulaic exclamation of identity used to formally introduce yourself
- Way of expressing your identity by locating yourself within the physical landscape and within genealogy
Locates you within whanau, hapu, waka, iwi and within a specific geographical region, known as a rohe
Tikanga
- underlying values
Predetermined set of rules and regulations that can change depending on context and situation
Mana
- power Is a spiritual power that comes from the gods that is made up of authority and power Mana Atua = gods Mana Tupuna = ancestors Mana Tangata = individual Mana Whenua = land Mana Moana = seas Mana Maori Motuheke = all mana for Maori people
Tapu
- a form of social control
A from of social control to regulate Maori society to protect people, places and resources - done for spiritual and practical safety
Wahi Tapu = places that are tapu
Rahui = temporary restriction
Whanaungatanga
(to make family)
The manner in which everyone in a community is related genealogically - used to build trust and respect
Kaitiaki
(guardian angel/animals)
Spiritual assistants of the gods, and minders of the natural elements of the world (do not include humans)
Kaitiakitanga
(guardian angel/human)
Is the role played by humans as kaitiaki and they must ensure that the natural elements (taonga) are healthy and strong
Rangatira
(leader/chief) A rangatira is a person of mana who can lead the people by holding them together - Ranga: shoal (of fish) - Raranga: plait, weave - Tira: group of people
Rangatiratanga
Exercise of power and authority derived from the gods; exercise of cheiftmansip including sovereignty, rights of self-determinatino, self-government, the authority and power of iwi and hapu to make decisions and to own and control resources
- Chieftainship/sovereignty
Te Kore
(nothingness) - nothing there but potential for everything (not pregnant)
□ Shown at the entrance at the gate
□ Anyone has the potential to come into the marae
Te Por
(darkness) represent death - die and go to the night (darkness within womb)
□ At the front of the house - courtyard area
□ Because it is a place of discussion and disagreement/debates
□ It echoes what happen when tane split up his parents
Te Ao Marama
(world of light and understanding) (birth of the baby)
□ Located inside the marae
□ Go inside when you understand people
Kapa Haka
contemporary and traditional Maori performing arts
Te Matatini
the national kapahaka competition. Takes place every two years around NZ.
Waiata Tira
choral, harmonic singing - optional in kapahaka
Six components of kapahaka
whakaeke moteatea waiata-a-ringa poi haka whakawaiata
Whakaeke
the entry onto the stage, can include lots of components e.g. Maori weaponry, poi, haka, choreography
Similar symbolism to a pawhiri
Moteatea
traditional chant, the oldest component of kapahaka
○ No choreography (against the rules) - the individual can have facial expressions/movements to convey the words of the song
○ No instruments
○ No harmonising
Waiata-a-ringa
action song, doing actions with body and hands to the company of a song with words
Poi
ball on end of string (any length) which is twirled to exhibit the meaning of the song being sung
Haka
physical and most passionate dance
- Misunderstood to be intimidating and scary as they can be but is an expression of how you feel towrads something in particular e.g. challenging opponents like with the All Blacks, funeral, fairwell - anywhere, any event
Whakawaiata
exit
