Mau Rākau ignites pride and purpose in Tasman rangatahi
Mau Rākau ignites pride and purpose in Tasman rangatahi
In the Nelson-Tasman region, a group of rangatahi are discovering strength, identity and connection through Mau R膩kau 鈥� a traditional M膩ori martial art that鈥檚 doing far more than teaching combat skills. It鈥檚 helping young people build confidence, deepen their cultural roots and find a sense of belonging.
Te Tai o Awatea is a kaupapa M膩ori organisation dedicated to revitalising te reo M膩ori, tikanga and m膩tauranga M膩ori. Through w膩nanga, creative projects and community-led initiatives, they are reconnecting wh膩nau with taonga tuku iho 鈥� ancestral knowledge and cultural practices. Mau R膩kau is one of their initiatives that is proving to be a powerful vehicle for cultural reconnection and personal growth.
Through the art of traditional weaponry 鈥� including taiaha 鈥� and other close combat techniques, rangatahi are gaining more than physical skills. Sport Tasman through T奴 Manawa funding, is proud to support this kaupapa that has helped Motueka Steiner School tauira (student) Eva Sparkes thrive since she joined 2 years ago.
Eva and her 2 brothers live with their grandparents. Her grandmother, Natasha, saw joining the initiative as a good way to help Eva build a connection to M膩ori culture.
鈥淚鈥檝e always tried to encourage them in activities where they can learn more te reo and have access to M膩ori culture,鈥� Natasha explains. 鈥淓va was always keen to learn te reo, but not being M膩ori ourselves, we couldn鈥檛 provide that knowledge.鈥�
Mau R膩kau has helped to give Eva a sense of identity and belonging and a boost in confidence, says Natasha. Since learning Mau R膩kau, Eva has been to 2 w膩nanga at the Nelson marae.
鈥淚 got the chance to practice what I learn in the group and experience the marae. It was challenging and gave me a chance to practice te reo and make new friends.鈥�
Many rangatahi who have been a part of the programme have stepped up into leadership roles, performed in kapa haka at national events, supported their local iwi and marae and welcomed visitors from near and far.
As pouako (teacher) Sean Delany explains, Mau R膩kau is a vehicle for teaching tikanga M膩ori and te reo M膩ori and has many facets. A vital part is hauora 鈥� spiritual, mental, emotional, relational and physical wellbeing. So too, is whanaungatanga (kinship).
鈥淲e coin the phrase 鈥榟e puna aroha 鈥� creating a safe space鈥� for members or wh膩nau to be authentic in themselves, which in turn, develops 'tuakiritanga (identity)鈥�. Building resilience is another important part of our approach,鈥� says Sean.
In today鈥檚 digital world, Te Tai o Awatea kaiwhakahaere, Louise Petzold says rangatahi and wh膩nau need support for their hauora.
鈥淢au R膩kau provides a rongo膩 - a remedy - for some of the restrictions in lifestyle that our young people experience each day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a taonga tuku iho - a treasure handed from ancestors - so by its very nature it draws on and is carried by the immense mauri of that. And that creates a mauri ora (vitality and wellbeing) space for all participants to benefit from,鈥� says Louise.
David Norgate from Sport Tasman reflects on the impact of this inspiring kaupapa:
鈥淭aiaha ha! Taiaha ha! M膩 te aha e wana ake 膩 m膩tou rangatahi? M膩 te taiaha e wana ake 膩 m膩tou rangatahi!鈥�
鈥淲hat will cause the hearts of our young people to be awakened? It will be taiaha!鈥�
