Tauparapara
Tauparapara are traditional opening chants used at the beginning of a speech, karakia, or formal gathering. They call on the ancestors and the natural world to set the spiritual tone, invite inspiration, and prepare both the speaker and the listeners for what is to follow. Tauparapara often weave rich imagery and metaphor to connect people, place, and purpose.
Learn Tauparapara
The purpose of this topic is to help you learn, understand, and confidently recite tauparapara. By studying their rhythm, imagery, and structure, and by practising line by line, you’ll gain confidence in delivering these traditional openings with the respect and intention they deserve. Regular practice will also deepen your understanding of the connections between language, ancestry, and the natural world.
Tauparapara: Āio
A tauparapara that calls for peace and balance across the heavens, earth, and all things, ending with Tihei mauri ora! to awaken the spirit before speaking.
Tauparapara: Ka Tangi
A tauparapara that likens the speaker’s voice to the calls of the tītī and kākā, joining the chorus of the natural world and announcing the beginning of speech.