He tamaiti nā Tangaroa, He Ahuahu o Mataora: Documenting Puhoro

Abstract

He Tamaiti nā Tangaroa, He Ahuahu o Mataora: Documenting Puhoro is a video documentary that revisits pūrākau to convey pre-colonial cultural ceremonies, experiences, and traditions through a distinctive form of Māori documentary-making. This practice-led research project explores the question: How might a filmmaker approach the recording of a traditional puhoro by drawing on traditional pūrākau? The thesis aims to reclaim, document, and preserve a traditional Māori tattoo art form, which, while deeply connected to whakapapa, whenua (land), and moana (ocean), also serves as a mark of honour in traditional Polynesian society. Situated within the Kaupapa Māori research paradigm, the study focuses on two key aspects. Firstly, it examines the culturally significant journey of the researcher receiving a puhoro (Māori tattoo) through traditional methods, paying tribute to the Māori traditions and stories embedded in this rite. Secondly, it artistically investigates how pūrākau can guide contemporary documentary-making in the recording and presentation of indigenous narratives. The research is significant for its dual focus. It documents the reclamation of the Māori practice of puhoro as an intrinsic part of traditional tā moko, including the revitalisation of tohi rituals (dedication to the gods) and karakia tawhito (pre-colonial chants). Additionally, it reinterprets pūrākau as a culturally anchored method of inquiry and documentation, contributing to the discourse on distinctive Māori filmmaking approaches. Though rooted in Māori traditions, the documentary’s universal themes of identity, tradition, and personal growth will resonate with a global audience interested in indigenous cultures, rites of passage, and personal transformation.