How to Lay a Hangi

Patu

The Waka

 Waka

On the ancient waka I row amongst my whanau, listening to warriors shouting “Ka mate Ka mate ! The water goes “splash” as we push the waves behind us. Oars dig into the moana and rise back up to the surface like the cogs in a great war machine. The bow and the stern of the boat is as sharp as the end of a taiaha.

As we paddle further and further we grow hungry and thirsty. The whanau and I tell each other the way to Aotearoa. The warriors rowing the waka with their oars the shape of feathers. The waka is decorated in red the shade of the blood and  torn flesh of our enemy’s. Warriors making pukanas with tremendous, wide eyes and protruding tongues. Mokos on faces of the warriors showing their forefathers. The whanau and I push and push with our oars cutting though the turquoise waters. We are ready for war.

Maori Village

After reading 'Rewa's Village' I created a labelled drawing of a Maori village.

Powhiri Process

The Hongi

The Hongi 

What is a hongi? 

A hongi is the pressing of noses, which symbolises the exchange of the breath of life 

When does the hongi happen? 

 When the tangata whenua side indicates that the speeches are complete, the manuhiri speakers approach the tangata whenua to hongi 

What to do. 

• First shake the other person’s right hand firmly with a little squeeze 
• Next great them by saying Kia ora (that is hello in Maori) 
• Then rest your left hand on their right shoulder 
• After that you gently touch their nose with your nose that is a hongi 
• Make sure you make eye contact and release noses and hands then take your hand of their shoulder 

The hongi is a respectful greeting so it is important to do it properly.

Rangi - the Sky Father

We described a character from the story of Papa and Rangi.

Rangi - The Sky Father

Rangi the sky father sat in the heavens torn apart from his beloved Papa the earth mother. Tane-Mahuta-god of the forest heaved his parents apart causing dazzling sunlight to flood the earth. Rangi wept tears of rain down on the earth as he stared longingly at his precious Papa. Seeing his father so forlorn Tane decided to light up the sky. Tane-Mahuta spread a ruby cloak across Rangi’s side and took the saffron sun and placed it on Rangi’s back. Tane-Mahuta then put the shining silver pearl moon at Rangi’s front. Tane-Mahuta gazed upwards and thought how miserable his father looked at night. Tane placed his brothers children, the glowing stars  all over his father’s front. Papa and Rangi still remain torn apart to this day. Lost loves,never to reunite.