NCEA Level 2 Te Ao Haka flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Te Ao Haka

The NCEA subject covering the study and performance of haka as a Māori performing art, including composition, performance, and analysis of context and tikanga.

Haka taparahi

A haka performed without weapons, focusing on the power of the kupu and movement; often used on marae and in welcome contexts.

Peruperu

A haka performed with weapons and including jumping, traditionally associated with war and demonstrating readiness and strength.

Wiri

The quivering hand movement used throughout many haka, symbolising energy, emotion, or the wind and representing the life force of the performer.

Pukana

A facial expression in which the eyes widen and the tongue may protrude, used to intensify emotion and to challenge or engage the audience.

Takahi

The foot stamp used in haka, marking rhythm and expressing force; correct technique protects the performer from injury.

Whakapapa

Genealogy and layered connection linking people to ancestors, land, and waterways; a key principle for interpreting references in haka texts.

Kaupapa

The purpose, theme, or intention behind an item; composers state it and use kupu, rangi, and movement to reinforce it.

Kawa

The specific protocols of a particular marae or iwi, which determine which items are appropriate and how they are performed there.

Pōwhiri

A formal welcome process that can include wero, karanga, whaikōrero, waiata tautoko, and hongi, with haka sometimes used as whakaeke or tautoko.

Tangihanga

A Māori funeral gathering where haka and waiata are used to mourn, support the whānau pani, and honour the deceased.

Te Matatini

The national kapa haka festival held biennially, fed by regional qualifying competitions and judged across disciplines such as whakaeke, poi, and haka.

Whakaeke

The entry item of a kapa haka programme, bringing the group onto the stage and setting the tone for the performance that follows.

Whakawātea

The closing item that clears the stage and ends a kapa haka programme, often carrying a reflective or farewell tone.

Waiata-ā-ringa

An action song with hand movements, distinct from haka in tempo and style; often paired with haka in performance programmes.

Mōteatea

A traditional chant without set action, often lament or genealogy, delivered with sustained vocal style and important as a source of kupu.

Whakataukī

A proverb used in haka and speech to carry ancestral wisdom; identifying it helps explain the deeper meaning of the text.

Kupu whakarite

A metaphor or simile in Māori composition, comparing a person or place to a natural feature to convey meaning indirectly.

Ihi, wehi, wana

Three qualities often used to judge performance: ihi is the essential force, wehi the awe it inspires, and wana the emotional response.

Kaitiakitanga

Guardianship of knowledge and people; in Te Ao Haka it means caring for the integrity of items, composers, and their whakapapa.

Ka Mate

A well-known haka associated with Ngāti Toa and Te Rauparaha; accurate attribution to its iwi and composer is essential in analysis.

Wero

A challenge performed during pōwhiri, traditionally involving a warrior laying down a token to test the visitors' intentions.

Karanga

The call performed by women during pōwhiri, linking the hosts and visitors and beginning the formal exchange between groups.

Whaikōrero

Formal speech-making on the marae, often followed by waiata tautoko; understanding it supports interpreting haka within pōwhiri.

Mana

Prestige, authority, and integrity; a principle that shapes how haka is composed, performed, and attributed to its source.

Tapu and noa

Complementary concepts of restriction and freedom from restriction; they frame appropriate behaviour around certain haka and contexts.

Rangi

The tune or pitch line of a haka or waiata; shifts in rangi mark changes in intensity and meaning within an item.

Hokinga kōrero

Returning to earlier references or themes within a composition, linking verses back to ancestors, events, or the opening statement.

Kōwhiringa o te reo

The selection and correctness of language in performance, including pronunciation and word choice, often used as a judging criterion.

Tūkē

A facial contortion used in haka to intensify expression and emotion, working alongside pukana to engage the audience.

Whanaungatanga

Relationships and kinship ties that bind whānau and hapū; a key lens for interpreting who a haka addresses and why.

Portfolio evidence

The collection of research notes, composition drafts, reflections, and recordings used to support Level 2 Te Ao Haka assessment judgements.