Mōteatea - Ka haea te ata.
Information from Ngai Tahu about this mōteatea:
Ka haea te ata was composed by the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kā Tuākana i te reo Māori class in February 2010.
The broad kaupapa was to compose a waiata about Te Waipounamu. This then developed into a journey across the rohe potae of Ngāi Tahu, commencing at the northern boundary, travelling across the plains, past Aoraki, down to the southern waters and then back up the western side of Te Waipounamu. Sheree Waitoa composed the tune.
* Note that our eponymous ancestor, Tahu Pōtiki, did not set foot in Te Waipounamu. Tahu Pōtiki however is reflected in his descendants, our tīpuna, who travelled, explored, claimed, named and established ahi kaa to the rohe pōtae of Ngāi Tahu.
(From an Email sent by Te runanga O Ngāi Tahu)
Keep working on learning the words to ka haea te ata. Make sure you are also looking at the translation, so you understand exactly what you are saying in this mōteatea.
Listen here:
Ka haea te ata
Hāro ana te kāhu
I te parinui o Whiti
Rere tou rā
Ki kā pakihi whakatekateka o Waitaha
Ka poupou te rā ki ruka Aoraki
Topa tou atu taku manu
Ki, Te Ara whenewhene a Kiwa
Ka ura te raki
Tau atu au ki Te Tai o Poutini
Ka taepaepa kā waewae o te rā
Te whenua tapatapahia
E taku tipuna Tahu Pōtiki
Ka tau, ka tau au ki konei e
Ka tau, ka tau au ki konei
Taku manu ka tau, tau ha e...I
Explanation:
This mōteatea takes us on a journey across the rohe pōtae (tribal territory) of Ngāi Tahu. Commencing at the northern boundary, travelling across the plains, past Aoraki, down to the southern waters and then back up the western side of Te Waipounamu.
Translation of places:
Canterbury plains - Ka Pākihi whakatekateka o Waitaha
Foveaux Strait - Te Ara whenewhene a Kiwa
Te Tai Poutini - West Coast
Do some research - find out what kind of movement is usually involved in mōteatea - watch these mōteatea clips one, two, three, four, five, six and most importantly - this one (from time 3.44).
Think about mauri, voice, movement, actions. What do you see?
Identify five things that you see being done/used during the performance of mōteatea.
We will put all of our ideas together and begin to make a plan - what will we do in our performance of ka haea te ata, to let our mauri shine?