7TWT - Te Whare Tapare (Module)

Aims of the Course:

For generations Te Whare Tapere has been the house of entertainment on our marae. The winter months, signaled by the arrival of Matariki in the night sky, our tūpuna Māori would gather to entertain, and share the stories and histories of our ancestors. This was done through games, story telling, puppetry, theater, and of course haka and waiata. 

As a society dependent on oral communication Te Whare Tapere was an important vehicle for passing on knowledge, whakapapa, and history. Performance was important to capture the imaginations of the audience while portraying the epic stories of the natural and spiritual worlds.

This course serves as an introduction to Kapa Haka as an arm of Te Whare Tapere and how Kapa Haka has become a part of Aotearoa society and culture, exploring its representation in schools, communities and Nation wide through competitions like Polyfest and Te Matatini. 

Topics:

Te Whare Tapere - The House of Entertainment: Explore what Te Whare Tapere is, it’s whakapapa and the stories of its origins.

Toi Haka - The Art of Haka: What is haka and waiata? How are they portrayed in traditional and contemporary society?

Ngā Āhuatanga o te Waiata - Haka & Waiata Characteristics: Explore the different items performed in a competitive haka competition, their characteristics and some of the features used to tell a story or embellish a performance.

Assessment:

NB: As this is a module course therefore results will not appear on Student Reports.

Subject and Career Pathways:

Te Whare Tapere is another pathway to acquiring Mātauranga Māori primarily through the art forms of Kapa Haka - Māori Performing Arts and Mau Rākau - Māori Martial Arts and Weaponry. Te Whare Tapere will help to develop understanding of the Māori World while strengthening personal identity, connection to environment, and over all hauora - health and wellbeing. 

Te Whare Tapere will develop skills in performance and skill acquisition for sports and physical activity, while building on knowledge of basic reo Māori and tikanga - protocols and processes to complement other subjects and career pathways in broadcasting, journalism, education, arts, entertainment, business, tourism, hospitality, local and central government, health, languages, sports sports and sports administration, marketing, tourism, management, law, corrections, public speaking, iwi development, volunteering, community services, farming and agriculture, primary industries, Treaty settlements, translating and interpreting services.