Toi RauGenerally speaking, tikanga are Māori customary practices or behaviours. The concept is derived from the Māori word ‘tika’ which means ‘right’ or ‘correct’ so, in Māori terms, to act in accordance with tikanga is to behave in a way that is culturally principled and appropriate. According to Mead (2016) “it is difficult to imagine any social situation where tikanga Māori has no place. Ceremonies relating to life itself – birth, marriage, sickness and death – are firmly embedded in tikanga Māori”. Furthermore, “tikanga comes out of the accumulated knowledge of generations of Māori and is part of the intellectual property of Māori” (Mead, 2016).
Mead, H. M. (2016). Tikanga Māori: Living by Māori values. Huia.
This programme introduces University of Auckland staff to Māori language pronunciation and tikanga (customs), as well as a history of Māori-Pākehā relations. It is also an opportunity for open and safe discussion about how the university’s commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi affects workplace practice.
Discover the history of New Zealand’s landscape, its people, events, places, identity and cultures from sites like Te Ara, Te Papa, DigitalNZ and NZ History.