Ngā Ara Rau o Kapa Haka. The multiple pathways of kapa haka: Māori students and teachers engaged in quality teaching and learning experiences

Abstract

This research explores ways in which kapa haka offers valuable educational opportunities for Māori students and teachers to engage in quality teaching and learning experiences. This thesis also explores how kapa haka represents the concept of Ako through teachers engaging students and students engaging teachers in a kapa haka context. It investigates how kapa haka can be used to engage students to accelerate students’ learning. Primarily, data collection will involve interviews to capture the narratives of three senior kapa haka tutors, with emphasis being given to a variety of educational opportunities that are deeply embedded in kapa haka. Webber (2012) explains that “kapa haka has a positive impact on students’ overall perceptions of their school life” (p. 234), which lead me further into this journey of exploring kapa haka and the educational value it offers. Interestingly I found that despite the literature supporting kapa haka and its many benefits with regard to tikanga, Te Reo Māori and promoting a strong sense of identity, the research on the direct educational benefits and how these benefits can be implemented into the teaching and learning programmes to engage Māori students in secondary schools is very limited. This research centers on identifying the specific educational opportunities in kapa haka and how kapa haka can be incorporated into the wider learning programmes within secondary education. Building on the earlier work of Whitinui (2008), it acknowledges the uniqueness of kapa haka as being educationally valuable.