NCEA L1 Te Ao Haka cheat sheet

Te Ao Haka: Key Knowledge for NCEA Level 1

• Te Ao Haka is the Māori performing arts learning area; it encompasses haka, waiata, poi, mau rākau, and moteatea as related but distinct art forms rather than a single genre.

• Haka is a performed composition with set kupu (words), rangi (tune), and choreography; it is not simply 'a war dance' - many haka are for welcome, mourning, celebration, or protest.

• Key performance elements to identify: te reo (diction and clarity), rangi (melody/pitch), takahia (footwork), ringaringa (hand actions), kanohi (facial expression), and te wairua (spirit/feeling conveyed).

• Kaitito is the composer and kaihaka are the performers; knowing who composed a item and for what occasion is central to analysing its purpose.

• Whakapapa of an item links it to iwi, hapū, marae, and tūpuna; a performer's right to perform certain items derives from whakapapa and mandate from the source community.

• Waiata can be classified by function, e.g. waiata tangi (lament), waiata aroha (love song), pātere (fast chant), and oriori (lullaby); classification signals the item's purpose and context.

• Poi is a performance art using poi (balls on cords) with rhythmic movement and waiata; mau rākau uses weapon-like implements and demands stance, coordination, and precision.

• Tikanga governs performance: correct pronunciation, appropriate dress, leadership roles (e.g. kaea/leader), and acknowledgement of the source of any borrowed item.

• Analysis in this standard requires linking performance choices to meaning - explaining how a specific action, lyric, or dynamic choice communicates the composer's intent, not just naming features.