Kia rite! Kapa haka for Screens
Dr Jani Wilson (Ngāti Awa, Ngā Puhi, and Mātaatua) of Te Kunenga Ki Pūrehuroa Massey University will explore the various adaptations to kapa haka as a response to technological development and assess where the art presently sits
Published on 3 Whiringa-ā-rangi November 2022
Kapa haka is an integral part of te ao Māori, used as part of significant cultural rituals to entertain, unify, and transfer knowledge. It brings forward a Māori worldview on issues across time, and allows space to have challenging, historical, political, and emotional discussions. Contemporary kapa haka fosters, develops, validates, and celebrates te ao Māori, te reo Rangatira honouring the chiefly language, and kaupapa Māori collaborative or shared approaches to issues.
kapa haka. Image: supplied
Over the last century, kapa haka has evolved exponentially, largely in response to the advancement of screen technologies. Yet there is little research exploring Māori and screen production. This Marsden Fund project, led by Dr Jani Wilson, is unique. It will be the first to invite kaihaka performers and kaitito composers to transition their profound knowledge of kapa haka into academic research, marrying theory and practice. Dr Wilson will analyse significant changes throughout history to film technologies and kapa haka, creating a historical overview of screened kapa haka performances. This will range from early performances captured primarily to display ‘what the natives do’ in this part of the empire, through to the audience inclusive screening of contemporary kapa haka. They will also perform a multigenerational audience study using a refined iteration of Rōpū Whānau – a focus group methodology established by Wilson – where closely linked whanaunga relatives respond to kapa haka screenings.
The filming and screening of kapa haka has an impact on the art’s ebbs and flows, the conflicts between maintaining traditions and exploring innovation. This project will welcome experienced kaihaka and kaitito with their plethora of performance and research skills to academic study. This project will also facilitate spaces for Māori to consider the future potential of kapa haka in te ao hurihuri the changing world.