Māori Music Journey

Overview

A comprehensive two-week (6 periods) unit aimed at Year 11 students exploring Māori music from traditional waiata to contemporary Māori artists who sing in te reo Māori. This unit links to the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh and emphasises learning objectives within Te Reo Māori and broader cultural values. The lessons foster listening, comprehension, translation, cultural understanding, and critical thinking.

---

Alignment with New Zealand Curriculum Refresh

Learning Area: Te Reo Māori

• Emphasises language as identity, cultural understanding, and communication through the arts.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles: reflecting local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori.
• Develops key competencies: thinking critically and creatively, participating and contributing, managing self, relating to others, using language symbols and text.
• Literacy: comprehending and translating waiata lyrics supports language learning and cultural literacy.

Curriculum Links

• Vision & Principles: Supports Māori identity and language development; inclusive and culturally responsive (NZ Curriculum).
• Values: Whanaungatanga (relationships), Manaakitanga (care), Rangatiratanga (self-determination), Kotahitanga (unity).
• Competencies: Thinking, Relating to others, Using language.
• Learning Objectives:
  • Understanding waiata as cultural expression and history.
  • Interpreting te reo Māori in songs.
  • Appreciating connection of language to identity and values.
• English Integration: Reading comprehension and translation of lyrics using context clues and morphology (Te Mātaiaho English guidance) .

---

Target Group

• Year 11 students (typically aged 15-16)
• Class size: 20 students
• Duration: 6 x 60 minute periods over two weeks

---

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe key features and values expressed in traditional and modern Māori music.
• Translate and interpret selected lyrics, demonstrating comprehension of cultural meaning.
• Discuss the evolution of Māori music, citing examples of traditional and contemporary singers.
• Create a simple presentation or creative response expressing personal connection to Māori music and its values.

---

Weekly Breakdown

Week 1

Period 1: Introduction to Māori Music and Values

Time: 60 mins
Objectives:

• Understand the role of waiata and music in Māori culture.
• Explore the concept of waiata as a form of storytelling and cultural expression.
• Identify core Māori values expressed through music.

Activities:

• Karakia / Whakawhanaungatanga to open the session (5 mins).
• Teacher-led overview of waiata types (waiata ā-ringa, waiata tohutō, haka, contemporary songs) (15 mins).
• Listen to a traditional waiata with lyrics (e.g., "Pokarekare Ana"). Break down the key values (whanaungatanga, aroha, manaakitanga) (10 mins).
• Group discussion: What role does music have in your whānau or community? (10 mins).
• Read and translate a short verse from the chosen waiata with assistance, modelling use of context clues (15 mins).

Assessment: Observation of participation in discussion and translation participation.

---

Period 2: Traditional Māori Singers and Songs

Time: 60 mins
Objectives:

• Explore significant traditional Māori songs and their meanings.
• Develop skills in reading and interpreting lyrics in te reo Māori.

Activities:

• Recap values from previous lesson (5 mins).
• Present a short biography and listen to recordings of a renowned traditional Māori singer (e.g., Paraire Tomoana) (10 mins).
• In pairs, students work on translating a traditional song lyric extract, using dictionaries and context strategies (25 mins).
• Share translations and discuss cultural themes and values embodied in lyrics (15 mins).
• Reflection journaling: How do these songs reflect Māori identity and history? (5 mins).

Assessment: Worksheet with translation exercises and journaling.

---

Week 2

Period 3: Contemporary Māori Singers and Te Reo Māori in Popular Music

Time: 60 mins
Objectives:

• Identify features of contemporary Māori music artists who sing in te reo Māori.
• Analyse how modern music continues or adapts traditional values and language use.

Activities:

• Listen to excerpts from artists like Maisey Rika, Stan Walker, or Six60 singing in te reo Māori (10 mins).
• Class discussion on stylistic differences and continuities from traditional songs (10 mins).
• Students choose a song and in small groups analyze the lyrics for cultural themes and vocabulary (25 mins).
• Each group presents their song’s themes and values to the class (15 mins).

Assessment: Group oral presentation on assigned modern waiata.

---

Period 4: Values Behind Māori Music

Time: 60 mins
Objectives:

• Deepen understanding of Māori values underpinning waiata and music.
• Discuss how music is a medium for expressing identity, history, and worldview.

Activities:

• Introduce Māori values vocabulary and discuss specifically in the context of music (10 mins).
• Teacher-led exploration of example lyrics highlighting values such as mana, kotahitanga, rangatiratanga (15 mins).
• Students select from two lyric extracts for individual translation and written response (20 mins).
• Peer sharing and feedback session on translations and expressed understandings of values (15 mins).

Assessment: Written response evaluating comprehension and application of Māori values.

---

Period 5: Reading Comprehension and Lyrics Translation

Time: 60 mins
Objectives:

• Apply reading comprehension strategies to translate and understand Māori song lyrics.
• Use context clues, morphology knowledge, and cultural understanding to interpret meaning.

Activities:

• Review and practice context clue strategies (5 mins).
• Students work independently on reading comprehension tasks with two sets of lyrics differing in complexity (30 mins).
• Group discussion on interpretations and challenges encountered, focusing on vocabulary and cultural references (15 mins).
• Teacher feedback and guided correction (10 mins).

Assessment: Completed comprehension worksheet and participation.

---

Period 6: Creative Response and Reflection

Time: 60 mins
Objectives:

• Consolidate learning through creative or oral presentations expressing personal connections and understanding of Māori music and values.
• Reflect on the role of te reo Māori in music and identity.

Activities:

• Students prepare either:
  • A creative artistic piece inspired by Māori music (poem, visual art); or
  • A short oral presentation reflecting on what they have learned about Māori music, values and language (15 mins prep).
• Presentations or sharing session (30 mins).
• Whole class reflection discussion on the importance of Māori music today and how it contributes to identity and community (15 mins).

Assessment: Creative or oral presentation, reflective discussion.

---

Resources Needed

• Audio recordings of traditional and contemporary waiata
• Printed lyrics sheets in te reo Māori with English translations
• Dictionaries and glossaries for Maori language support
• Whiteboard/SMART board for lyric display and notes
• Journals or worksheets for translations and reflections

---

Teaching Tips

• Encourage the use of te reo Māori throughout the lessons to build language confidence.
• Use collaborative group work to engage diverse learners.
• Integrate technology by using digital sources for music and lyric videos where available.
• Connect lessons to students' own experiences with music and culture.
• Offer scaffolds such as sentence starters, vocabulary lists, and modelling for translation tasks.

---

This lesson unit embodies the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh principles by weaving te reo Māori language and mātauranga Māori into authentic learning experiences, promoting equitable outcomes and cultural understanding. It also addresses key competencies and literacy development through integrated music and language activities .