Maoritanga In The Mire? GOOD TEACHING LAYS THE GROUNDWORK

Te Ao Hou, June 1963, Page 23

Alan Armstrong, of Wellington, is joint author (with Reupena Ngata) of ‘Maori Action Songs’. A second book, ‘Maori Games and Hakas’, is to be published shortly. This article is the first of two in which he discusses the teaching and presentation of action songs and hakas. The second article will appear in our next issue. Maoritanga In The Mire? GOOD TEACHING LAYS THE GROUNDWORK by Alan Armstrong ‘Maoritanga in the Mire?’ which appeared in the last September issue of ‘Te Ao Hou’ has led some of my friends to take issue with me on the grounds that the criticism which is contained was not constructive (on the other hand a kaumatua whose name is a household word throughout Ngapuhi told me I had not gone far enough, which goes to prove the old adage—‘yer can't win!’). I shall therefore (greatly daring) try and be more constructive. Our good editor in the heading to ‘Maoritanga in the Mire?’ referred to me as an ‘expert’. Truthfulness, as well as modesty, leads me to deny any such claim. Living in Wellington I am constantly in contact with people whose knowledge of matters Maori is (at a conservative estimate) about ten times more than mine. I hasten therefore to give myself a status which cannot be assailed—that of a critical observer, which is everyone's prerogative. If other ‘critical observers’ now like to go ahead and take issue with me, that is well and good. In considering Maori culture today, there are two fields in which a great improvement is not only possible but necessary. One of these is the way in which it is taught and passed on to our young people. The other is the way in which it is presented on the marae and concert platform. This article will discuss teaching technique.