The Marae and the Haka
Hello!!
Before starting I would like to ask Simon some questions. I have been in Japan just once for few hours, in the way to come to New Zealand and I visited only Narita, the town where there is the airport. I don't really know much about that Country and I was wondering how is the food a part from sushi... Can you tell me something about that? And which is your favourite meal? What about drinks? Which is the most common ones?
And now the continuation of the Maori story...
As you can imagine after my brief description I wrote last time, Maori have different traditions from white people (English and Kiwis). A specific tribe lives in one village and has her own Marae. This is a Maori community facility which consists of a carved meeting house (wharenui), a dining hall (whare kai) and cooking area as well as the marae atea (sacred space in front of the meeting house).The marae is a symbol of tribal identity. It is a meeting place where people can discuss and debate various issues, and is considered by Maori as a turangawaewae (a standing place, a place of belonging). It is the area of greatest mana (prestige, power), the place of greatest spirituality, the place in which Maori customs are given ultimate expression. On the marae, official functions take place: celebrations, weddings, christenings, tribal reunion and even funerals.
I put some Maori words in my description so you can see how different is that from the English language. For example, to say hello they say "Kia Ora" that also means "You are welcome". If you watch the news on the television, speaker always says Kia Ora before starting with the news. Besides, there is the Maori channel where, for most of the time, they speak Maori language. Unfortunately I can't understand anything.....
Another thing you have surely seen is the Haka. It is one of their traditional dances, where the warriors jump around in an intimidating manner, bulge their eyes and stick out their tongues. Haka is not exclusively a war dance, in fact it is performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions.
The NZ national rugby team (the "all blacks" because their uniform is black) loves to do the haka at their opponents before a match. Did you ever see them?
This depiction of a haka as a war dance dates from ca. 1845.
And now let me answer to your comments...
Thank you dear Pritam, I don't really think Maori are threatened by someone. In fact I reckon they are very important for New Zealand. Without Maori this Country wouldn't be the same.
I have some pictures for you, dear Aditya: 
Also for me it wasn't very nice knowing about the cannibalism, dear Naheed, but fortunately now they eat just fast food!!!
Dear Antonio, I have seen a shark here in New Zealand...but at the Napier Aquarium. They don't usually come to visit us cause of the cold water (luckily!!!).
You are right, Francis, there are many birds here. My favourite, I have to say, is the Pukeko but I promise I will find some pictures and I will tell about native fauna and flora in one of my next blog.
Why wouldn't you make a tattoo Ernesto? For the pain or just because you don't really like them on your body? I don't have any tattoo actually but I don't want to say that I will not do ones one day. Who knows!
I think it's a good idea remaining calm and friendly with them...ahahahahha...I am joking!!
Dear Cristina, my parents are both Italian and I went to Italy when I was two. In fact I can't speak German, unfortunately! In those years many Italians went to Switzerland, France, Germany to find a good job because in Italy life was very difficult.
Thank you Felicitas for your information. I have to say I didn't know that, so I didn't go to visit that place.
Well, I have just the time to say see you soon!!!
Ciao
Rosi
Comments
Hello Rosalba! Seeing the fantastic pictures on your blogs made me remember of the film 'Whale Rider'. Have you seen it? The Maori has a fascinating culture. Besides that, it was really interesting to read more about them here :-). See ya, Ana Paula.
Dear Rosi, It is glad to know more about Maori culture. Pictures are able give impression of artistic nature of Maori people. Tradition of making tattoo in legs and arms are very interesting. Can you explain us how did you feel when you visited Maori society for the first time. You have promised so many things to highlight about Maori people and tried it in a nice way. I am eager to read more about New Zealand.
Hi Rosi, Thank you for answering my questions. So you're more Italian than Swiss. I like the way you tell us the story of the Maori people along with their traditions. You're right, it's part of New Zealand and traditions tend to be important in our lives. Looking forward to your next blog. Fondly, Cris
Ok, good luck for your holiday in Japan. In my face it's embarassing.
Dear Rosi, let me give you a belated welcome to the blog. I arrived home from the UK a couple of days ago. I had so much fun seeing my daughter and hugging her and telling her how proud I am. The graduation ceremony was really nice and moving. I remember enjoying your comments on my blog in 2006 so I thought you might enjoy my comment as well. I have been enjoying your entries so much. They are all really interesting. What gorgeous pictures! Yes, I have seen the Haka dance on TV. It was really funny. I am looking forward to reading about your life in NZ. Rosi, let me say Hello to my old friend, Diema. I am glad to read her comments and to know she has not disappeared off the face of the earth. Best wishes,
Congratulations, the serie of maori people is great. Reading your comentaries they seem well integrated. (the opposite of the natives of Alaska or North America) isn't it?
Dear Rosi, thank you so much for such detailed description of the Maori people. They seem to be very artistic aren't they? Looking at the picture of Marae seems like they are very organised people. I'm enjoying reading your posts and your style of communicating with us all. Looking forward to reading about your life in the Kiwi land until then, bye...Naheed
Dear Rosi. You are right. "Never say never" is a wise advice. But, nowadays I don't like to have a tattoo. The reason is not the pain. I think this is not more painfull than a vacine. It's just I like my bodie natural as it is. It's not the case, for example, with a haircut, because eventually my hair will grow again. A tattoo ir for life... Thanks for the information about maori language. Kia Ora sounds very well. Now I tell you how to say hello in aymara, the language of the indigenous people of northern Chile, southern Perú and the bolivian Andes: "Kamisaraki", and you have to answer "Waliki". Here rugby is not very popular, bat I'v seen haka in TV several times. Bye.
Thanks a lot Rosi, for your wonderful and short but precise response to my query and especially for your promise to let me get a glance at the fauna of this beautiful and interesting landscape of a country. Actually, I was rather thrilled with your graphic description of this exotic traditonal and picturesque country, especially the details of the way in which they welcome their visitors and the way way they go about doing it. I should say thay I had seen this in one of those performances of the 'all blacks', being an avid sport enthusiastic and was rather fascinated but a little bit puzzled over the aggressive aspect of it, but later on, I had to research it all and found out that it was all so humane and traditional. And I should say that being someone, who is always glued to the TV, I had the opportunity of watching an episode recently of the official visit of the wife of the President of the United States,Laura Bush, to Afghanistan and she was welcomed by members of the armed forces of New Zealand, serving in the international coalition forces in Afghanistan, and she was a bit flabbergasted at the ceremony that she confessed at the end that she was almost scared during the ceremony, so you see, I'm not alone in thinkinking a bit different about this people, albeit in the name of their uniqueness of tradition. So, keep informing us Rosi and thanks for this and bye for now as I'm up to another site for another thrill.
Good morning Rosi, we don't understand if the tatoos in the photo above are yours.. ?! Give a "hello" to your incredible Italian man!! Bye bye!!!...Rosi,Davide didn't hear you at phone.. he is crying...ahaha
Dear Rosi, it was a fascinating blog about the Maoris. Maybe you can tell us some about their wedding ceremony, can't you. this would be nice. Warm greetings, Felicitas
Hi Rosi! Immediately after Anita´s comment appeared I looked at her blogs again and really found out you have commented on her post yet. I am amazed how you are devoted in learning English and in pursuing your goal you made the decidion to live in NZ. Even more you write these blogs full of interesting information to us this month. Congratulation on such assiduity! Have a fun!
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
