Home » E-Journals » Research in New Zealand Performing Arts - Nga Mahi a Rehia no Aotearoa
Over the past several years there have been a great many exciting developments in Aotearoa / New Zealand performing arts. One example is the recent prominence of New Zealand and success of New Zealanders in the realm of mainstream Hollywood blockbuster films, as evidenced by The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Last Samurai, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and others. Such films, have seen this relatively small nation enjoy a profile in a global industry, which is disproportionate to the size of its populace. Of particular note in the case of the film industry are the successes of films based on local stories and culture. With the exception of the biographical, The World’s Fastest Indian (about NZ racer Burt Munro), most of the other NZ films that have done well in the last four years have been primarily based upon the stories, cultures, and experiences of Māori and Pacific Islanders, including Whale Rider, No. 2, River Queen, Sione’s Wedding, and the Oscar-nominated short film Two Cars, One Night. All of these have received much critical acclaim at home and abroad, and give some credence to the statement found on the New Zealand Film Commission’s website asserting that “it’s never been so hip to be brown.” Keeping in this same vein, if “brown” film, TV, music, dance, etc. have in the past been poorly supported and appreciated by New Zealand and the rest of the world, now, more than ever, it seems the tide has turned and their time has come. As a result, and given my background working in Māori and Pacific Island performing arts education, my opening comments to this E-journal are focused on key developments in this sphere.
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E-Journal Publications Details
Volume 1Edition: 1; General Editor: Ms Susan Battye; In association with: Te Wananga o Aotearoa; Published by: Drama New Zealand; Publication date: Tuesday, 18 July 2006; ISSN: 1177-8199; © 2006 All Right Reserved; Te Wananga o Aotearoa & Drama New Zealand
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Foreword
Volume 1Over the past several years there have been a great many exciting developments in Aotearoa / New Zealand performing arts. One example is the recent prominence of New Zealand and success of New Zealanders in the realm of mainstream Hollywood blockbuster films, as evidenced by The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Last Samurai, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and others.
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About
Volume 1
An open-access, peer-reviewed academic e-journal published by Drama New Zealand in association with the School of Performing Arts, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Launch Date: 18 July 2006. Launch venue: Te Wananga O Aotearoa Manukau Campus.
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Introduction
Volume 1Te Wānanga o Aotearoa aims to increase its capacity to make a significant contribution through research to New Zealand’s cultural and social development and in doing so, be innovative, accessible and beneficial to all communities. Te Kāhui Rangahau, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Research Committee is committed to supporting and developing research capability of staff and is charged with monitoring and approving research projects and allocating funding where appropriate.
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Editorial
Volume 1This inaugural e-journal, Research in New Zealand Performing Arts: Nga Mahi a Rehia No Aotearoa, is the first of its kind in Aotearoa / New Zealand, and as such represents a unique collaboration between an arts subject association, Drama New Zealand, and the School of Performing Arts, Te Wananga O Aotearoa (TWOA).
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Stories whispered by the land: An account of two workshop events, in Parua Bay and Te Kaha
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] Stories are powerful agencies. They carry explicit and latent messages about the meanings of things around us, our identity and our connections. This article looks at ways in which particular stories may spring from the land itself.
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Across Cultural Boundaries: Sharing Cultural Knowledge through Music with the Use of Culture Bearers
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] This study investigated the teaching and learning practices of the Maori aural singing tradition to come to a better understanding of the ways in which teachers can create meaningful multicultural music experiences for their students in an authentic and culturally sensitive way.
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Culturally Inclusive Arts Education in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] This paper examines how non-indigenous teachers in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s increasingly multicultural schools are being encouraged and supported to use The Arts to develop in their students a deeper understanding, appreciation and interpretation of Māori tikanga (beliefs and values), and taonga (treasures).
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Celebrating Maori and Thai Music Magic: Implications of World Music Collaboration
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] This photographic essay documents the first Thai-Maori Musical Exchange Project (New Zealand, 2005). It concludes with theoretical discussion of the myriad ways such endeavors may contribute to intercultural understanding, and proposes new directions for research on international arts exchanges.
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The Theatre of Te Rakau Hua O Te Wao Tapu and the Politics of Change
Volume 1[Peer Reviewed] This research article examines the work of the Maori theatre in education company, Te Rakau Hua O Te Wao Tapu, and its veteran producer / actor/ director, Jim Moriarty. The article asks what the theatre does, who it reaches out to and what impact it has on the audience.
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Once Were Warriors On Stage: Unpacking the CD-ROM
Volume 1
This article reflects on the production of an interactive CD-ROM – Once Were Warriors On Stage, based on the Maori musical drama, Once Were Warriors, which was staged in New Zealand urban theatres during March and April of 2004.
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An interview with Piripi Christie
Volume 1
The burgeoning Maori Music Industry has seen the emergence of contemporary singer-songwriter/ performers producing their works in Te Reo Maori in their respective genres. An interview with Piripi Christie focuses on the compositional styles of one of Maoridom’s youngest and most well known contemporary Maori artists.
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Kapahaka: Building Cultural Capital in Aotearoa
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] This paper examines the place of Ngā Mahi ā Rēhia (traditional Maori song and dance) within a Māori Performing Arts Degree and considers the impact of achievement based assessment methodology on the students’ work.
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The Pohutukawa Tree at Panguru: A report on a site-specific ‘promenade’ performance in a Te Rarawa community
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] The play, the Pohutakawa Tree by Bruce Mason, was produced by Mina Pomare-Peita, the Principal of a Northland Area School, Te Kura Taumata o Panguru, with some directing support from Hilari Anderson, freelancing in 2005 and currently Chair of the Auckland region of Drama New Zealand, Mahi Whakaari o Aotearoa.
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New Zealand/Aotearoa Plays and Playwrights: In Search of Our Theatre
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] When beginning drama at senior level, what better place to start than with studying the theatre of your own country? New Zealand theatre is a growing and dynamic form with many manifestations. There is some debate on what the features of NZ theatre are and even whether such a form exists.
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Waiora – A Circle Of Stones Under Maungawhau
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] This practical discussion looks at the way in which a classroom drama teacher makes a personal and professional journey in the course of engaging her female students in the production of a play written by a Maori playwright. The study documents the drama classroom strategies which promoted reflection and learning for the students in relation to their gender, cultural and ethnic identity.
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Music in Expressive Discourse: New Directions for Arts Education in New Zealand
Volume 1
[Peer Reviewed] This essay review examines music books by New Zealand writers Stuart Manins and Robin Maconie.
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Copyright Statement
Volume 1It is a condition of publication that authors assign copyright or licence the publication rights in their articles, including abstracts jointly to Te Wananga O Aotearoa and Drama New Zealand. This enables us to ensure full copyright protection and to disseminate the article and the Journal, to the widest possible readership in electronic format as [...]
