The comedy edition

Kia ora e te whānau,

Nau mai, hoki mai ki Te Arawhata—the comedy edition!

Last night someone stole a toilet seat from the Kaikohe police station… Now the cops got nothing to go on… huhuhuhu (that’s a Billy T James laugh).

I te rā nei/Today we’re sharing a pukapuka/book full of cheeky phrases you should know, a naughty waiata ngahau/party song, sparkly artworks, and more to help you get in on all the Māori jokes and keep that cultural kete full to the brim.

Heoi tuatahi/But first, whakaweto/turn off all your phone notifications, kua tae mai te wā for a news catch up.

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Talk of the tāone

Your weekly round up of the arts, media, and events everybody’s talking about
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- ‘Te Ao with Moana’ visited Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae, holders of the highest NCEA pass rate in Aotearoa, to find their secret to success.

- Willie Hona of well known band, Herbs, has passed away.

- Anika Moa is releasing a new children’s book, ‘The Witch of Maketu and the bleating lambs’.

- ‘Far North’s Got Talent’ is on and Troy Kingi is mentoring contestants.

- Crochet artists, Lissy & Rudi, released a yum collab with Cadbury chocolate and are inviting you all to a wānanga on their artist residency at the Nathan Homestead, June 1.

- ECAL from Moerewa has released a sweeeet new single, ‘Soul Food’.

- Māori artist, Pauline Yearbury’s, works sell for eight times auction estimates.

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Picks o te wiki

Our top 4  'crack-up' recommendations from the world of Māori arts, media, and events.

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#1 Fabric artworks by Maungarongo Te Kawa‍‍

When we look at traditional carvings through our own amateur lens, we see whakapapa, pūrakau, and perhaps tohutohu/instructions. Ron sees more from our old people, including their humour, cheekiness, partying, matakite/foretelling, loudness, love, and rhythm. His mahi is jam-packed with these important cultural concepts and epically refreshing in an art world that can feel rather serious at times. Also—sparkles!

_{Find them: at Season Aotearoa Gallery and on instagram I Time: an arvo or a scroll I Cost: free to look I Credits: Photo by Seb Charles, Francis Whanell is the dealer from Season Aotearoa}

#2 Waiata Ngahau/Party song, a video clip by Te Rawhitiroa Bosch

Te Rawhitiroa is well known for capturing beautiful moments at Māori events all over the motu. This waiata of improvised verses showcases Māori humour in all its clever, naughty, communal brilliance. One watch is a guaranteed lift to your ata/morning. Don’t worry about understanding all the kupu/words, you’ll get the gist—just maybe don’t go singing it out loud afterward…

_{Find it: on youtube I Time: 5 mins I Cost: free I Credits: the video is by Te Rawhitiroa and features Paraone Gloyne, Sir Tīmoti Kāretu, Pānia Papa, Leon Blake, Rahui Papa and more at Te Tuangahurutanga o Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori, 2014}

#3 How to Loiter in a Turf War, a novel by Coco Solid

The kōrero between besties as they navigate life, love, and the gentrification of their beloved neighbourhood in this pukapuka/book is sharp as a taiaha. Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu, though it does leave us with one conundrum—do you listen because it’s twice as crack-up with Coco’s narration? Or read because the illustrations are everything? Kei a koe/ Up to you!

_{Find it: on the Penguin website I Time: one weekend I Cost: $28 I Credits: illustrations by Coco Solid aka Jessica Lee Hansell too, Penguin is the publisher.}

#4 ‘The Last Laugh’, a documentary about Māori comedy by Wayne Leonard

This doco is not politically correct. It includes sexual innuendos from the waha/mouths of kui, Billy T James jokes about stealing backpacks, mourners doubled over with laughter during tangi, and even a cameo by old Winny. Also—all the ways those examples epitomise, are an integral, and in fact therapeutic part of Māori culture. It’s the funniest culture study out.

_{Find it: on NZ on Screen I Time: 45 mins I Cost: free I Credits: written by Bradford Haami, directed by Wayne Leonard, starring Billy T James, Mike King, Pio Terei, Stacey Morrison, Rawiri Paratene, Sir Howard Morrison, and more.}

Feature o te wiki

‍A deep-dive on our kaupapa o te wiki

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Māori phrases to get you in on the joke‍

One things for sure, Māori humour is unique.

As I researched my picks this week, I tried to figure out what the defining factor is.

It’s something about that sweet spot where you can be… well from a non-Māori perspective, rude—but in such a warm, charming, and amusing way, you totally get away with it. I still can’t find a singular kupu/word for it, but ‘cheek’ seems to be a recurring theme.

Being in on the joke feels great. I've had tears of laughter streaming down my face listening to kaumatua at the uka/euchre table serving up banter hotter than a hāngī pit.

Being on the outside but laughing along anyway and then getting found out when your friend asks ‘What’s funny?’ and you have to admit you have no idea—not so great.

For that reason, I’m a great fan of ‘Te Reo Kapekape: Māori Wit and Humour’, a pukapuka/book by Hona Black. ‘Kapekape’ means to throw words around just to rile someone up and Black’s aim is to help reo Māori learners to pick up and practise that famous Māori cheek.

If you’re keen to get in on the joke too, here are some great phrases he shares to have up your sleeve:

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[Etahi] mokoweri! / They're such dinosaurs!
Used to describe people who have outdated views.

Me kāmu te pāmu / Calm the farm
A transliteration of the English phrase that urges someone to chill out.

Turituri warawara / Blah, blah, blah
An idiom indicating someone is talking for the sake of it (and probably likes the sound of their own voice).

E neke tō teke / Move your vagina
A funny rhyming phrase to get someone to move out of the way. It just rolls off the tongue!

Kai te whaiwhai pīhau / Following someone’s flatulence
A phrase describing someone who is a nuisance because they follow people around (like a pīhau/fart).

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There you go e te whānau, we hope you enjoy adding these rerenga/sentences to your arsenal. Heoi, kia tūpato/But, be careful. There's a time and a place for everything, especially when it comes to dropping these cheeky phrases. At beginner level we’d advise saving first tests for casual shindigs rather than formal gatherings. Younger cousins are prime targets, if one accidentally slips out around Aunty Pare, avoid eye contact, back out slowly, and make yourself busy. Quick.

Phrases taken from Hona Black’s book Te Reo Kapekape: Māori Wit and Humour published by Oratia. For a cheeky learning experience with Hona Black himself, don't miss the chance to hear him at the upcoming Auckland Writers Festival.

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A correction! Everyone who was ready to pay $20 to visit Wairau Māori Art Gallery is about to save some pūtea, because we got it wrong 😅. It’s just $5 for locals and $10 for out of towners!

Kāti, whether you’re Māori, Tangata Tiriti, Pākehā, Tauiwi, or mangō 🦈, we hope this newsy helped you to enjoy, learn from and connect with te ao Māori today.

Hei ā tērā wiki!/Till next week!

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