Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
was meant to. Protocols were necessary, and women were dedicated to weaving under the
aegis of the gods. Today, tradition is greatly respected, but not all traditions are necessar-
ily followed.
Flax was (and still is) the preferred medium for weaving. To get a strong fibre from flax
leaves, weavers scraped away the leaves' flesh with a mussel shell, then pounded until it
was soft, dyed it, then dried it. But contemporary weavers are using everything in their
work: raffia, copper wire, rubber - even polar fleece and garden hoses!
The best place to experience weaving is to contact one of the many weavers running
workshops. By learning the art, you'll appreciate the examples of weaving in museums
even more. And if you want your own? Woven
kete
and backpacks have become fashion
accessories and are on sale in most cities. Weaving is also found in dealer art galleries
around the country.
See Hirini Moko Mead's
Tikanga Maori,
Pat and Hiwi Tauroa's
Visiting a Marae,
and Anne Salmond's
Hui
for
detailed information on Maori customs.
Haka
Experiencing
haka
can get the adrenaline flowing, as it did for one Pakeha observer in
1929 who thought of dark Satanic mills: 'They looked like fiends from hell wound up by
machinery'.
Haka
can be awe-inspiring; they can also be uplifting. The
haka
is not only a
war dance - it is used to welcome visitors, honour achievement, express identity or to put
forth very strong opinions.
Haka
involve chanted words, vigorous body movements, and
pukana
(when performers
distort their faces, eyes bulging with the whites showing, perhaps with tongue extended).
The well-known
haka
'Ka Mate', performed by the All Blacks before rugby test
matches, is credited to the cunning fighting chief Te Rauparaha. It celebrates his escape
from death. Chased by enemies, he hid himself in a food pit. After they had left, a friendly
chief named Te Whareangi (the 'hairy man' referred to in the
haka
), let him out; he
climbed out into the sunshine and performed 'Ka Mate'.
In the South Island you can experience
haka
at various cultural performances including
at
Ko Tane
( 03-359 6226;
www.kotane.co.nz
;
60 Hussey Rd, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve; dancing, tour & din-
ner package adult/child $110/54; 5.30pm Mon & Thu-Sat)
at Willowbank in Christchurch; Maori
Tours (
Click here
)
in Kaikoura and Myths & Legends Eco-tours (
Click here
)
in Picton.
