Tamariki

^{Maori kites}

^{Beautiful kites welcome in the new year and provide a connection to old times. Kites are traditionally flown on the first day of the new year. Why not make your own Manu Tangata kite}

^{String Games - Te Whai waewae-o-maui}

^{Te Whai waewae-o-Maui is the longer term for the commonly known mahi or string games. The name alludes to te following feet of Maui, the trickster, and mastering the movements associated with creating intricate string patterns}

^{^{Cup and saucer - Te kapu me te hoiha}}

^{^{Use a 2-metre length of cord knotted into a single loop. (Some games need shorter cords and some need longer ones.) Harakeke (flax) string is customary, although commercially available cords (nylon, braid, wool) can be used.}}^{^{Hold the string out from the body at stomach height, hooked over the thumb and the little finger on both hands, with the hands up, and from each thumb, number the fingers – from one (closest to the thumb) to four (the little finger).}
^{With finger one on the right hand, go across to the left hand, tuck finger one under the string of the left hand, and drag the string back until it is taut again.}
^{With finger one from the left hand, go across to the right hand and do likewise.}
^{Keep the fingers all pointing upwards to prevent the strings dropping off – there will be six crossed strings forming a pattern at this stage.}
^{Take both thumbs and pass them over strings two to five, and drag string six back towards the body.}
^{Use the teeth to pass string one (the string closest to the body) over the thumbs without dropping any other strings.}
^{Release the string from fingers four of both hands and gently pull it through the others to form a cup and a saucer pattern.}
^{Parachute patterns Ngā heketau te}
^{Use a 2-metre length of cord knotted into a single loop. (Some games need shorter cords and some need longer ones.) Harakeke (flax) string is customary, although commercially available cords (nylon, braid, wool) can be used.}
^{Parachute pattern 1 te heketau te tauira 1} ^{Put the string around both hands, hooked over the thumb and the little finger so it forms a rectangular loop.}
^{Number the fingers from one (closest to the thumb) to four (the little finger).}
^{Release the right-hand part of the loop and hold the left hand upright.}
^{Pull down the string that crosses from the thumb to finger four on the left hand.}
^{Release the string and go back to the new cross string and pull that down. Now the string has a little twist in it around the thumb and finger four.}
^{Put the right hand through the strings hanging down, take the twist of both sides from behind, and pull them both through the strings hanging down. You should now have a figure with four strings hanging down and a cross string underneath.}
^{Pass the four strings hanging down over the four fingers, putting fingers one, two, and three in the three spaces that lie between the four strings as they cross over to the back of the hand.}
^{Let the strings hang over the back of the hand.}
^{There should be a single string crossing the palm from the thumb to finger four. Gently pull that string downwards and your pattern will look like a parachute with one hold rope.}
^{Parachute pattern 2 te heketau te tauira 2} ^{Put the string around both hands, hooked over the thumb and the little finger so it forms a rectangular loop.}
^{Drop the right-hand part of the loop and hold the left hand upright.}
^{Take the cross string between the thumb and finger four and drag it over finger two.}
^{Put the right hand through the hanging strings, from behind, take the two strings on the palm and drag them down.}
^{This will be the same pattern as Parachute pattern 1 (see above), but the cross string will be in front instead of behind.}
^{Pass the four hanging strings over the four fingers, putting fingers one, two, and three in the three spaces between the four strings as they cross over to the back of the hand.}
^{Let the strings hang over the back of the hand.}
^{Take the two strings from the outside of the thumb and finger four and pull them down and your pattern will look like a parachute.}
^{View a Flash object demontrating Parachute Pattern}
^{^{Hand games Tākaro ā-ringa} ^Whakapapa
^{Hand games play an integral part in the development of physical attri}^{butes such as hand and eye coordination. Traditionally, the arts of pleasure were attributed to Raukatauri and Raukatamea. Attributing games and pastimes to legendary characters allowed Māori to explain the origins of these amusements. The period when recreational games and pastimes were mostly played was just after the crops were harvested and stored. During this harvest festival, Māori gave themselves over to Ngā mahi a te rēhia, a te harikoa – the arts of pleasure and of joyfulness.}^{There are many traditional pastimes which strengthen physical and mental agility.}
^{Some examples are Hipitoitoi, Hei tama tū tama and Whakaropiropi ai.}
Hipitoitoi
Hei tama tu tama
Whakaropiropi ai
exploring tikanga}}

Page last updated 2 Jun 2008