NCEA Level 1 Ngā Mahi a te Rēhia cheat sheet

Ngā Mahi a te Rēhia literally means 'the activities of the Rēhia' - the performing arts as a whole; the term groups haka, waiata, poi, mōteatea, waiata ā-ringa and related forms.

Rēhia denotes enjoyment, leisure and delight; the domain name therefore frames performance as collective pleasure rather than mere entertainment.

Key performance elements to name: te reo (language), rangi (tune/melody), reo (voice), takahanga/ngā ringa (foot and hand movement), kanohi (facial expression), and te wairua (spirit or feeling conveyed).

Waiata is the generic term for song; mōteatea are traditional laments chanted without strummed accompaniment, while waiata ā-ringa are action songs with hand movements.

Haka is a general term for posture dances performed with vigorous movement and vocal delivery; it is not limited to one mood - it includes welcome, challenge, mourning and celebration.

Poi is both the object (a ball on a cord) and the performance form; poi performances may be seated (poi sitting) or standing, and coordinate movement with sung or chanted text.

Māori performing arts are transmitted orally and through whakapapa and iwi tradition; a performance item is usually attributed to a composer, a tribe and a specific context.

Terms for performers and roles: kaitito (composer), kaitā (leader of a haka or chant), kapa (group/team), and kaihaka (performer in a haka group).

Haka performance structure commonly includes a leader's call (nā te kaitā), a unison response (the main body), and a final flourish; the leader's voice establishes pitch and pace.

Pūkana (widening the eyes) and whētero (protruding the tongue) are deliberate facial expressions used to intensify emotion and challenge; they are not random gestures.

Waiata often follow a call-and-response pattern: a leader sings a verse and the group answers; the group's entry point is a fixed cue in the text.

Whakapapa and location matter: an item may be composed for a specific marae, iwi, ancestor or event, and performing it out of context changes its meaning.

Kapa haka is the modern competitive and performance context; items are judged on diction, movement, expression, and the group's unity and spirit.

Poi performance depends on timing and coordination: the poi is swung in consistent rhythm, and the movement pattern is matched to the beat of the song.

Waiata ā-ringa use stylised hand movements that illustrate the words; the movement should follow the lyric rather than be decorative.

Mōteatea are often performed without instruments and are characterised by sustained, lamenting delivery; the text carries the historical narrative.

Kaitito (composers) are acknowledged when performing; attribution links the performance to whakapapa and to the iwi who hold the item.