[Kate D]

Hi,

Looking for some suggestions here...

My local book club is biased in favour of Kiwi/Oz writers and I've just read Potiki by Patricia Grace which is about a Maori community: increasing unemployment, a return to the land, fending off would be land buyers etc. Anyway, it's a wonderfully written book and makes several references to Maori cutlure and practices of which I am an ignorance and would rather like to change, and it got me thinking - what can I read that would shed some light? I mean factual type stuff - cultural practises, beliefs etc. Preferably not too heavy, but enough to give me a flavour. I am sure wiser people on this forum could make some suggestions so I'd love to hear them please!

Kate

[Andy&Carol]

I've been told (by a Maori colleague) that Whale Rider is a good read and "Much better than the film." Sorry, can't remember the author.

I think I've got another couple of reccommended titles written down somewhere, I'll check them out and get back to you.

Cheers, Carole

[IanW99]

...
I mean factual type stuff - cultural practises, beliefs etc. Preferably not too heavy, but enough to give me a flavour. I am sure wiser people on this forum could make some suggestions so I'd love to hear them please!

Kate

Have you considered the Mauri Ora (http://www.mauriora.ac.nz/) course.

AFAIK it's free to residents and the resources provided are outstanding, many books etc on the Maori culture.

Ian

[gil]

Whale Rider is by Witi Ihimaera, good book, not my favourite of his (that would be Sky Dancer). It's not a factual book about Maori custom and practice though...

[JandM]

Have you considered the Mauri Ora (http://www.mauriora.ac.nz/) course.

AFAIK it's free to residents and the resources provided are outstanding, many books etc on the Maori culture.

IanThat looks excellent - and good value, at $0!

[Ngeru]

I have a couple of good handbooks 'Tikanga Whakaaro' and 'Te Marae' which are very good for beginners, with information on protocol and beliefs.

http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Nonfiction/Social_Sciences/Customs_Traditions/product_info/473022/?cf=3&rid=697496250&i=1&keywords=te+marae

http://www.amazon.com/Tikanga-Whakaaro-Concepts-Maori-Culture/dp/0195582128

I find some of the history books a bit hard going (print too small :laugh), but it is always worth a look on Trademe. Heaps of books on music, waiata, myths and legends and you should find a few copies of the above. When you are done with them, you can easily sell them on too.

[Ngeru]

Also this website has lots of info

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/category/tid/133

[Jacqi B]

Have you considered the Mauri Ora (http://www.mauriora.ac.nz/) course.

AFAIK it's free to residents and the resources provided are outstanding, many books etc on the Maori culture.

Ian
That looks really good.
Any one on here done it?
I tried to give you 'reputation' but apparently I need to spread it around first.

[IanW99]

That looks really good.
Any one on here done it?
I tried to give you 'reputation' but apparently I need to spread it around first.

My OH has done it, which is why I'm aware of it :)

The course material is really good, loads of top quality books and DVDs etc. You actually get boxes of stuff delivered over the length of the course.

BTW, there are several different similarly named courses, so I hope I've linked to the correct one.

Ian

[Jacqi B]

Any other courses, either Maori culture or otherwise people can recommend?
What's adult education like in Wellington? I used to use evening classes as a way to meet people. I've only recently finished studying with the Open University so will have study withdrawal symptoms if I don't do something once I get settled.

[Jacqi B]

Answered my own question - googled for Wellington and Adult education and found this
http://www.cecwellington.ac.nz/
Some interesting cookery classes there :-)

[Ngeru]

Any other courses, either Maori culture or otherwise people can recommend?
What's adult education like in Wellington? I used to use evening classes as a way to meet people. I've only recently finished studying with the Open University so will have study withdrawal symptoms if I don't do something once I get settled.

Te Wananga O Aotearoa has them all:


http://www.twoa.ac.nz/home.php

The good thing is most Maori classes are free!

[KerryS]

Any other courses, either Maori culture or otherwise people can recommend?
What's adult education like in Wellington? I used to use evening classes as a way to meet people. I've only recently finished studying with the Open University so will have study withdrawal symptoms if I don't do something once I get settled.

The extend website has details of loads of courses around the country - you can search by location and subject to find what you want. It has evening classes, tertiary courses, childrens classes...
http://www.xtend.co.nz/index.php

[Tomsk]

I've just signed up for the Mauri Ora course after having it recommended to me by someone. It sounds really interesting, so I'm looking forward to it...with a certain amount of trepidation...I'm hoping that it's not too time consuming.

[Jacqi B]

The extend website has details of loads of courses around the country - you can search by location and subject to find what you want. It has evening classes, tertiary courses, childrens classes...
http://www.xtend.co.nz/index.php

Thanks for that - now bookmarked. Can't give you reputation till I spread it around

[Wooly_Cow]

Having done two courses (guitar) at Wellington and Adult education, I can thoroughly recommend them.

I am also looking a courses on Maori history and culture.

[Kate D]

Hey, lots of great ideas in there - many thanks all! The Maori Ora course looks really intriguing but possibly a bigger time committment that I can do just at the mo. Will think about it seriously though, especially as the quality of the material is so highly recommended. I hadn't though of adult evening class either but that's now an option!

Knew you guys would come up with lots of great ideas:)

Kate

[Georgebulldog]

Thanks for all those links, been thinking of some kind of course or taking up jogging, still not sure but some great ideas there to start me in the right direction :nice1

[Jacqi B]

I've always found evening classes (or other times of day) to be a good way to make new friends.