GAMES OF THE OLD TIME MAORI by HEMI BENNETT PART 1 MAORI youth often met during the winter months in one of the larger houses of a pa or kainga, passing the time in story-telling, singing, haka, games, contests and other pastimes Important occasions, such as the completion of the digging of the kumara crop, were the signal for several days to be set aside for games and contests such as kite flying, wrestling, canoe racing, dart throwing, haka and various others. Many early writers blame the missionaries for the discouraging of ancient Maori games and pastimes. The elders for ever had the idea fixed in their minds that it was absolutely essential for the young lad to be so trained as to develop into an efficient fighter. Consequently he was encouraged to indulge in those pursuits which fitted him to become proficient in the use of arms. Boys were taught at a very tender age the use of weapons when they indulged in mock battles in which reeds and flax stems were used in practising movements they would later use in earnest when the taiaha and tewhatewha were in their hands. The welfare and survival of the tribe depended upon the agility, dexterity and efficiency of the young warrior. Many of the games played by Maori children in bygone days are identical with those played today by children of other races the world over. As an example, let us take kite flying which was known in most countries and throughout the Pacific. Although ostensibly a child's game, kite flying was also indulged in by grown man. In former times it was regarded as having two different aspects—recreational and ceremonial. Names applied to kite flying were manu (bird), kahu (hawk), and pakau (wing). When indulged in by adults, kites of superior quality were made, while those for children were made simply and quickly from raupo (bullrushes), these were not very good and flew saggingly. Those used by adults were painstakingly made and, resembling birds, were not unlike those of the Chinese. A triangular form of kite called taratahi was made of raupo tied to a light frame of toetoe stems. The manu aute was the name given to a superior form of kite made in the form of a bird with outspread wings. As the name implies the inner bark of the aute tree was used in its making. Incidentally, it was from this tree that the Islanders made their Kite with toitoi plumes and centre of raupo. The framework is very light. These kites were very perishab'e. The one pictured here (origin: Urewera) is still in the Dominion Museum but has suffered from the passage of time. (Dominion Museum Photograph)