爆料社区

M膩ori have always adhered to the idea that we should look to the past to inform the future, and play is no exception. The Manu Tukutuku W膩nanga, hosted by Crystal Pekepo-Ratu (Ng膩ti Vara, Ng膩ti T膩ne, Ng膩ti Kahungunu) of Maataatoa, and facilitated by renowned taonga t膩karo legend, Harko Brown, offered wh膩nau in Hawkes Bay the opportunity to reconnect with traditional games and knowledge to inform play in the present.

The two-day kaupapa included the opportunity for the group to create taonga t膩karo including manu tukutuku and k墨. They also learned a variety of ng膩 taonga t膩karo, which incorporated p奴r膩kau and shared m膩tauranga around the historical uses and applications of the manu they made.

The roopu, who ranged in age from tamariki to pakeke right through to kaum膩tua, were shown that taonga t膩karo are not only fun to make and play with, but they provide an opportunity to enhance te reo M膩ori, restore m膩tauranga, and learn life skills all the while picking up incidental outcomes such as strengthened values and communication.

Harko acknowledges that it鈥檚 not just about games, it鈥檚 about things that M膩ori really treasure like arohatanga and manaakitanga, hosting people and demonstrating love through sharing kai with each other. He advocates that 鈥淚t鈥檚 about all the M膩ori values that we treasure. Kids really learn to appreciate it and connect spiritually with these taonga and also the environment around them through the use of implements such as aroaro t膩karo which they can make and then use in the game play鈥�.

There is an intrinsic interconnectedness when it comes to te ao M膩ori. If we look at taonga t膩karo we can see how these treasures give us insight into ng膩 r膩 o mua, the days of old, and how they restore connection in the present. Connection to self, connection to culture, connection to others and connection to the taiao. Many of the m膩m膩 involved, highlighted how important the hononga, the connection to the taiao was when it came to taonga t膩karo and play.

鈥淭o have our own taonga, like harakeke in our own backyard, our n墨kau r膩kau that we can use and kore te utu - at no cost! Hononga t膿r膩 ki t艒 t膩tou t奴puna hoki, so just instilling those tikanga that have been lost along the way has been a humbling experience for myself,鈥� says Fenella Nukunuku (Ng膩ti Porou, Ng膩tu Kahungunu), M膩m膩 of four tamariki.

鈥淲hen it comes to tamariki and play, one of the whakatauki that comes to mind is 鈥楾膩 te tamariki tana mahi w膩w膩hi tah膩. It is the job of the children to smash the calabash.鈥� This whakatauki reminds us that it is the nature of children to explore their world and the objects in it and it is our responsibility to teach them. Taonga t膩karo and play are really good vehicles for both of those outcomes and we should use these beautiful opportunities of play to engage with our tamariki authentically in ways that allow them to develop themselves.

鈥淧angarau, problem solving, p奴r膩kau, whakapapa; these are the incidental outcomes whilst wh膩nau have an opportunity to enjoy their tamariki and create beautiful memories,鈥� says Crystal.

The tamariki who attended the w膩nanga have become champions of taonga t膩karo within their schools, whanau and h膩pori. They have gifted taonga to teachers, taught the neighbourhood kids how to play and shown extended whanau what taonga t膩karo are all about.

鈥淚 was so inspired to see my son so happy and in mahi that mai ra ano, mai to tatou nei tupuna. The most humbling part about it is seeing another way of learning for my son. So seeing him in this element was amazing,鈥� says Fenella Nukunuku (Ng膩ti Porou, Ng膩ti Kahungunu)

Taonga t膩karo can enrich our lives and initiatives like the Manu Tukutuku W膩nanga are all about encouraging wh膩nau to take what they need and apply it as a form of building their toolbox for play and creating their own wh膩nau legacies.

爆料社区 Ihi Aotearoa recognises the positive effects of play on tamariki and knows that play benefits the taha tinana, taha hinengaro and taha wairua. Give tamariki the tools, time and space and let them be free to explore and play.

Feedback from whanau who attended the w膩nanga

鈥淲hat did I hope to get out of this w膩nanga? Taiao i te ao M膩ori. I hoped to get that, but I got way more!鈥� - Tara Pere-Atua (Ng膩ti Kahungunu).

鈥淭he kids were engaged the entire time, they loved it.鈥� - Tara Pere-Atua (Ng膩ti Kahungunu)

鈥淚t was like he was in his world, it was amazing to see a different light in my son. He stayed focused, concentrated, listened and absorbed it all. He loves making things, so he was in his element. We need more of this in our kura, in our schools. Just seeing him in his element was amazing.鈥� - Fenella Nukunuku (Ng膩ti Porou, Ng膩ti Kahungunu).

What are taonga t膩karo?

Ng膩 taonga t膩karo are defined as traditional M膩ori sports, games and recreational activities. Taonga t膩karo were cultural activities which connected M膩ori directly to their spiritual beliefs and formed the nexus of society, supporting education and sustaining social order in the land.