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Te Ao Hou, December 1965, Page 46

must be ruthlessly deducted for bad actions, poor footwork, mistakes, etc. The best group may not be that which brings a lump to the throat and raises a laugh. The judge must be fair to those who have practised long and hard, and not let careless groups cash in merely because they make more noise and get the audience laughing with them and cheering for them. The necessity for marking against specifics goes further. If teams are to get the full benefit from a competition, it is not sufficient merely to be told that they were not placed first. They have a right to be told where they went wrong and where their technique requires improvement. Then they can go away and work on their faults and perhaps comes back next time and win the competition. I should like to give a suggested mark sheet for haka taparahi, just to illustrate how many things there are which go to make up a good performance and which must be scrutinised if the judging is to be objective and truly to avaluate the group. Stance: Are feet well apart? Is stance one of relaxed readiness? Check for sagging waists and hunching shoulders. (10 points) Expression: Deduct for performers grinning. Expression must be fierce and vigilant. Check use of pukana, pikari, whatero, whakapi. (10 points) Eyes and Head: Eyes must watch enemy (audience) but may follow hands for significant actions. Deduct for performers who look around or at the ground. (10 points) Actions: Crisp? Strong? Decisive? Check hands do not flap, have controlled vibration. (10 points) Co-ordination: Everyone working as a team? Watch back rows! (10 points) Start and Stop: Must be crisp and together. All performers must ‘hit’ words together when they start. Note position of hands on hips. (10 points) Rhythm: Is it appropriate to the haka? Make sure tempo of words and actions fit. (10 points) Words: Every member of group must say them (watch lips). Check for clarity. Do they have sufficient volume, considering the number in the group? (10 points) Leadership: Has leader good control and presence? Are his words clear and correct? Deduct

points if he crosses in front of group. (10 points) Grouping: Arrangements on stage. Have they given themselves plenty of room? (10 points) In the above, teams are judged against ten important points and these are defined. Similarly, other sets of important points should be used in considering action song, poi, dress, etc. It is no use using vague terms like ‘communication’ which mean all things to all men. If judges mark against specific headings they are in a much better position to show a group where it is going wrong, and their judging is less likely to be influenced towards giving the highest points to the group with the nicest tune or the most colourful dress, or the one that they heard last.