Something that has really stuck out to me during my time in New Zealand is the strong emphasis on Maori culture. I am taking two Maori courses, one is about culture and society and the other is about song and dance practices. Maori culture is very very prominent in New Zealand, and the people take a lot of pride in it. I find it fascinating for people to have such a strong sense of culture. One of the most important aspects of Maori culture is their ancestors or tupuna. During each class, the lecturer begins and ends with a Karakia which is a chant addressed to Atua (ancestors), this serves to set the intention for the lecture. The ancestors are always being mentioned and acknowledged, as well as where people come from. The Pepeha is a special form of introduction used to represent where an individual comes from. This includes their mountain, river, waka (canoe), and whakapapa (genealogy). This is special to me because there is a much stronger sense of family origin and pride in Maori culture. I think it’s beautiful to have this pride and remembrance of those who came before you. It is easy to forget about people or where we came from, but these practices help people remember and respect who they are. In terms of my engagement with my host country, learning more about the culture has brought me a heightened feeling of respect. It also makes me wish I had a stronger connection to my culture and ancestry. In some ways I can relate to it because I have a very close and tight knit family, but I don’t know as much about the people who came before me. Learning about cultural differences has definitely opened my eyes and made me even more curious.
