MAOR107-19S1 (C) Semester One 2019

Aotearoa: Introduction to Traditional Maori Society

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 18 February 2019
End Date: Sunday, 23 June 2019
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 1 March 2019
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 10 May 2019

Description

A comprehensive introduction to: the settlement of the Pacific, Polynesian navigation, star paths, renaissance of voyaging. Maori astronomy, new year stars. Creation myths, Skyfather, Earthmother, gods, origins of life and death. Demigods - Maui, Tawhaki,Whaitiri. Oral traditions, first arrivals, canoe ancestors, explorers, romance, sexual imagery, war. Spiritual beliefs, mana, tapu, makutu black magic witchcraft. Maori geography of New Zealand, greenstone trails, forest lore, pa and settlements, meeting houses, sacred rituals and protocols. Social structure, tribal organisation, leadership, marriage, sex, death. Fortifications, warfare, weapons, canoes,cannibalism. Wood, bone, greenstone carving, tattoo and moko. Performing arts, haka, contemporary themes. Ngai Tahu traditions.

The Treaty of Waitangi was the blueprint for the formation of early New Zealand, it has a contested, complex, and rich place in historical and contemporary New Zealand society. If you want to understand the Treaty of Waitangi and contemporary events like 40,000 strong protests, why there are treaty settlements, and whether there really is such a thing as ‘Māori Privilege’; this is a great introductory course that will give you the knowledge and tools to understand the relationship of the Treaty in Māori issues.

• At one point the Treaty of Waitangi was legally considered a ‘simple nullity’; something that can be disregarded. What is the significance of the Treaty in building New Zealand society, why was it needed and what authority does it have contemporarily?
• Media around Māori Treaty settlements often split the country, challenging a perception of equality. What relationship does the Treaty have towards race relations in past and present New Zealand?
• By the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi there were more literate Māori than settlers. By the late 1950s Māori were numerically outnumbered and considered a dying race. What changes occurred in Māori society pre and post signing of the Treaty and why?
• What were the effects of assimilation and integration of Māori into a western society and are they still in effect today?
• At one point the Crown considered New Zealand too costly to send support for colonisation. What changed and why? What is the basic formula of colonisation, the narratives and goals?


The themes in this course include
• The relationship between settler and Māori before the Treaty of Waitangi
• The Treaty and the transfer of power
• Colonisation, narratives about the colonised, and the effect on Māori identity
• Māori Spirituality as a political movement of protest
• Indigenous autonomy
• The Māori renaissance and Treaty settlements
• Contemporary issues

Course Goals
• Introduce the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles
• Examine the impact of the Treaty on contemporary New Zealand
• Investigate colonisation in New Zealand and the impact on Māori and identity
• Review Māori political and spiritual response to the Treaty



Learning Outcomes
Students will
• Openly discuss common understandings of the Treaty, cultural encounters, race relations and stereotypes in an open environment on a pathway to attain considered opinions
• Gain introductory knowledge to the Treaty of Waitangi, its principles, and the impact on Māori
• Begin to appreciate how the Treaty has shaped New Zealand and race relations
• Have a greater understanding of New Zealand history

Why this Paper?
Students taking this paper may be interested in the following career pathways
• Policy analyst in Māori and Government organisations
• Community development roles especially within Māori and Iwi sectors
• Professional social services, education, health sector roles interfacing with Iwi and Māori organisations.
• Kaupapa Māori research
• Police
• legal
• Librarian


Transferrable Skills
This course contributes to the development of the following transferable skills
• Critical thinking
• Self-awareness
• Communication
• Indigenous world perspective
• Cultural awareness

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator

Hamuera Kahi

Lecturers

Emma Maurice (Aotahi: School Maori and Indigenous Studies) and Jess Maclean

Tutors

Tessa Barrett-Walker and Dominic Grace

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Online Quizzes - 3 30% There will be fthree on line quizzes posted on LEARN fortnightly relative to the previous weeks lectures and readings. Each quiz/task will be worth 10%
Take Home Test 1 20% This test will cover material from Term 1. The format of the test will include both short and long answers.
Research Exercise 20% The main aim of this task is to find three appropriate resources on the following Maori concepts. 1. Mana 2. Tapu 3. Utu. Students must outline and identify the key points of each resource. Furter details will be given in week 5.
Take-home Test 2 30% The test will focus on material covered in Term 2. Further details will be given in week 10.


Assesment:
One:
Online quizzes:               Due: Week 3, 5, and 9                 30%    
There will be three on-line quizzes posted on LEARN fortnightly relative to the previous weeks lectures and readings. Each quiz will be worth 10% of the total course grade.

Two:
Take Home Test 1           Due:               20%
This test will cover material from Term1. The format of the test will include both short and long answers.

Three:
Research Exercise:          Due               25%
The main aim of this task is to find three appropriate resources on the following Māori concepts:  Mana - Tapu - Utu
Students must outline and identify the key points of each resource.  Further details will be given in week 5.

Four:
Take-home Test 2:          Due:              30%
The test will focus on material covered in Term 2. Further details will be given in week 10.

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Ka'ai, Tania; Ki te whaiao : an introduction to Maori culture and society ; Pearson Longman, 2004.

Walker, Ranginui; Ka whawhai tonu mātou = Struggle without end ; Rev. ed; Penguin, 2004.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $761.00

International fee $3,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Aotahi School of Maori and Indigenous Studies .

All MAOR107 Occurrences

  • MAOR107-19S1 (C) Semester One 2019
  • MAOR107-19S1 (D) Semester One 2019 (Distance)