Karyn Paringatai

Poia Mai Taku Poi - a History of Poi: a Critical Review of Written Literature on the Poi in New Zealand and the Pacific Karyn Paringatai

M¿ori performing arts is a dynamic part of the M¿ori culture which has effectively ensured the inter-generational transmission of M¿ori knowledge for thousands of years. Performing arts was crucial amongst a group of people with no written form of their language. Traditionally, M¿ori performing arts was not a performance but a ritual. It was an integral part of everyday life and was used in all aspects of traditional M¿ori society. Upon European arrival to New Zealand M¿ori social life and customs were observed and documented in a written form. M¿ori social life and material culture changed remarkably and these early written sources provide a glimpse of how traditional M¿ori society operated. The aim of this research is to investigate early sources on M¿ori performing arts in order to construct a written history of poi - one of the least researched but most widely practiced areas of M¿ori performing arts. It is hoped that this study on poi will encourage others to engage in historical research and unearth other secrets of M¿ori performing arts that have been hidden amongst the pages of early writings.