July 30th, 2009
Filed under: Pre-School, Work | Tags: book, kapa haka, māori
Kapa Haka
For Māori Language Week we have been doing all sorts of fun stuff at pre-school. Probably the coolest was getting the Kapa Haka group from Burnside High School to come in and do a great performance for us. The kids got a little scared when the boys started sticking their tounges out and swinging their Taiaha around, but they were put at easy afterwards when they came and shook their hands and even gave them little Poi that they had made for them.
I also wrote a small book in Te Reo Māori called The Sandpit, which I have been reading with the children. I’ve uploaded a copy here for your viewing pleasure. Keep in mind in my hard copy version the shovel at the start of the book can come out and be used to lift little flaps that cover the objects in the sandpit. You get the idea.
July 22nd, 2009
Filed under: University | Tags: language, māori, University
Kōrero Māori - Talk Māori
For my Diploma in Early Childhood Education I am required to take a Māori language course. In Māori culture greeting others is very important. It is an opportunity for people to show respect, through the language used and its accompanying actions. For this reason a bulk of my grade for this course is an oral evaluation of my mihi. A mihi is a formal Māori greeting, which gives thanks to the earth and local surroundings as well as everyone involved. It then goes on to introduce oneself through describing the area in which you grew up; such as naming local mountain and rivers. You then name your grandparents and parents and finally yourself.
Today, I had my oral test for my mihi. It went ok, it could’ve gone better, but all in all I was quite happy with it. To help prepare for the test I recorded myself saying my mihi, so I thought I might as well share it with you all. Maybe it will be your first time hearing the Māori language, I hope I do it justice.
If you would like to learn more Māori, you can visit Kōrero Māori or Māori/English Dictionary.
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