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Rākau
Rākau
Rākau has 3 definitions
1. tree, stick, timber, wood, spar, mast, plant - not normally used before the names of trees or plants.
2. weapon, arms, bat.
3. challenge stick - the stick or baton that the kaiwero lays down at the pōhiri to a distinguished visitor.
There are a lot of kemu (game) that we can play using a rākau.
The most comman are:
Tī rākau - played with the poto (short) rākau
Poi rākau - played with the roa (long) rākau
Kōeke Rakau actions.pdfKura Rākau waiata
Kura Rākau waiata
Tu tira mai is a waiata about coming together and standing together.
It has a ka rawe beat to it, which makes it a perfect fit for using tī rakau!
We learnt this waiaita earlier in the year, now lets learn how to do a rākau rythym to it!
Kōeke Rakau actions.pdf
Making your rākau
Making your rākau
What you will need:
Two sheets of white pepa (paper)
Colouring pencils
Tape
Two small magazines or nūpepa (newspapers).
How to make your tī rakau:
Roll up your magazine or nūpepa as tight as you can.
Tape around the edges and middle to hold it in place.
Make two rolls.
Tape a piece of white paper around each roll and decorate.
Tī Rākau
Tī Rākau
Many variations of tī rākau (stick games – also known as tītī tōrea, tītī touretua, tītī tourea and poi rākau) were played by both men and women. Players often formed two rows facing each other, then threw and caught rākau (sticks) in time to a chant.
Some games involved seated players throwing rākau to each other. In others the participants stood. There were also games where large groups of players threw sticks, and each participant who dropped a stick was ‘out’. The game continued until only one player was left.
Tī rākau helped warriors to practise hand-eye coordination at speed
https://teara.govt.nz/en/traditional-maori-games-nga-takaro/page-5The videos to the left will show you some waiata to practice your tī rākau skill too.
Video 1 and 2 are to E papa waiari
Video 3 is to Tu tera mai nga iwi
Video 4 is also to E papa waiari but is performed by the Harmonic Resonators and accompanied by the Kaboom Percussionists. See how amazing they are at tī Rākau!
Poi Rākau
Poi Rākau
Traditionally Poi Rākau was a training game for warriors. One person stood in the middle (pūtahi), surrounded by the throwers (tukunga) standing in a circle (wī). The rākau were made from Mako wood and sharpened. They were thrown to the person in the pūtahi. On catching a rākau the warrior threw it at a person in the circle who didn't have a a stick, who then had to catch and throw it on.
To play - Kiatakaro
Equipment - long poi rākau (bamboo sticks, hockey sticks, 1m rulers, anything long light and straight)
Important kupu -
ki raro: down
ki runga: up
ki te taha: to the side
ki waenganui: between
matau: right
mauī: left
Instructions.
While standing in a circle, the caller with say 'Ki te taha (move to the...) Mauī (left) or matau (right) when the call is given you have to leave your rākau where it is and move to the next rakau before it falls.
Watch the videos to the left to see how it works in action!
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