Te Matatini

This week I watched some of Te Matatini with my children. We had a good look at what each group was wearing and their marks, discussing the colours, shapes and patterns we saw.  We listened to the songs, listening for words we knew, songs we knew, and trying to decide what each song was about by the sounds and actions and facial expressions. 

It was lovely to watch, even if only from home, and the children were making connections with what they could see and what they do in kapa haka at school. We saw the talent of the poi being spun in rhythm, the noise of feet pounding on the stage, the way the fabric moved as they spun and move across the stage. 

If anyone else wants to watch it, go to https://www.tematatini.co.nz/te-matatini-festival/te-matatini-2019/

What is Te Matatini?

Te Matatini is a national Māori performing arts festival in which kapa haka performers from all around Aotearoa compete in the Te Matatini festival.

It has the kaupapa (purpose) "To foster, develop and protect kapa haka in the pursuit of excellence."

So what does Te Matatini mean?

 Te Mata meaning the face and tini denoting many — hence the meaning of Te Matatini is many faces.

Here are some other words I think are helpful to know when you watch Te Matatini. 

• Kapa haka - Māori performing arts, kapa means form a line, haka means dance. Kapa haka involves choral singing, dancing, action songs, and learning the haka (that is a challenge). Facial expressions are important to the delivery. There is often guitar accompaniment, sometimes pūtatara (it is a shell you blow into), poi, rākau  and body percussion (stamping feet and chests). 
• Tāonga - treasure, trophy
• Toa Whakaihuwaka - overall winner 
• Waiata - song
• Poi - round ball attached to a plait, spun around during songs
• Manukura Wahine/Manukura Tane - the female /male leader of the group
• Kakahu - the costumes, everything is judged at Te Matatini - weavers, moko and tuhi kiri (tattoo) artists, and carvers. 
• Roopu - group

I have probably missed loads, but here is a start. 

Kupu Hou means Word of the Week

This year my work have started Kupu Hou (Word of the Week). There have been three so far:

Whānau (pronounced Far-no) Whānau refers to family. For Māori, whānau might be used to describe mum, dad, grandparents, brothers and sisters. It can also be used to describe great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and everyone they are related to. The word whānau can also be used to describe a group of un-related people brought together for a specific task.

Mana (pronounced mah-nah) - prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma. Mana is a supernatural force within a person, place or object. The more prestigious the event, person or object, the more it is surrounded by mana.  Mana is displayed by people who lead, organise and regulate communal activities and make decisions regarding social and political matters. A person or tribe's mana can increase with success. Mana empowers chiefs and in turn spreads to his/her people, their land, water and resources. Almost every activity has a link with the maintenance and enhancement of mana.

Manaaki (pronounced mah-nar-key) - to support, take care of, give hospitality to, protect, look out for - show respect, generosity and care for others.   To manaaki our patients, their family, whānau and colleagues is at the core of what we do in the healthcare sector. Manaaki can be displayed by, but not limited to, warmly greeting someone, an act of service, an act of kindness, listening with intent, giving a koha (gift) or even sharing kai. This is anything nice someone does for you that would give you what can be described as 'the warm fuzzies'. Many Māori take great pride in the way they manaaki the people around them and greatly respect others who manaaki them the same way.

Te Pōkaitahi Reo - Week 1

I have embarked on a new journey. I enrolled in Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Rumaki, Reo Rua)(Te Kaupae 3). It is offered through work and involves attending 2 hours of class time each week plus directed and self directed study. There are four papers, each of which will be assessed orally. 

Am I scared? Yes, a little. I have been trying to get comfortably with pepeha, but this is next level. 

Starting my pepeha

• Ko Tabitha toku ingoa.

Can I deliver a more complete pepeha?

• Tēnā koutou katoaKo ____Maungarei ________ te māunga
  Ko ____________ te awa/roto/moana
  Ko ____________ te waka *
  Ko ____________ tōku tīpuna *
  Ko ___Ngapuhi_________ tōku iwi
  Ko ____________ tōku hapū
  Ko ____________ tōku marae *
  Nō ___Tāmaki makaurau_________ ahau
  Ko _____Adrianne_______ rāua ko ___John_______ ōku mātua *
  Ko ___Tabitha_________ tōku ingoa
  Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
   
• Greetings to you allThe mountain that I affiliate to is ______Mt Wellington, where I live___________________
  The river/lake/sea that I affiliate to is ____________________
  The waka that I affiliate to is ____________________________ *
  My (founding) ancestor is _______________ *
  My tribe is ________NGAPUHI, NGAI TAWAKE and TE RARAWA._____________________
  My sub-tribe is _________________________
  My marae is ___________________________ *
  I am from ________Auckland____________________
  My parents are ___Adrianne_______ and _____John______ *
  My name is _______Tabitha_____________________
  Therefore, greetings, thrice over

My grandma (mum's mum) gave me a bit of my whakapapa written down so I can start to get a picture of who I am....... So, here my journey starts, in the 1800s. 

My children are enrolled in Kapa Haka at school and in Maori immersion classes. I want them to know about the history of this land, and to understand the people around them, starting with Maori and European history and building from there. I know so little myself, and I have started to read books from the library and ask questions and research. 

Enrolling in Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Rumaki, Reo Rua)(Te Kaupae 3) is an opportunity to really get on the waka and put in the moi, the work, and see where this journey leads me. 

Our first class was meeting the kaiko, the teachers, and discussing the course overview and setting the scene for what we would be learning. They said that we would be hearing many stories to help us understand the kupu, the words, in te reo, the language. 

Our first directed work was to find out where is Awanuiārangi. Well, I looked up where Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is, and I think it started in Whakatāne. But then perhaps grew as there are now:

• Whakatāne Campus
• Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) Campus
• Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) Campus

Given we are told we will be learning stories, I think I need to learn the story of Awanuiārangi, ancestor of the Ngāti Awa and Te Āti Awa people. He was a descendant of Toroa (captain of the Mataatua canoe).  What I am not sure of is why Awanuiārangi is important to the Wānanga, so more research to be done!