Te Mara Hupara : 30 Ancient Maori Artefacts for Play Learning and Exercise

Hupara were mainly forest-based resources used by hapu to educate & train their youth on and to provide tribes with recreations, whanaungatanga podiums and various physical & mental pathways. Hupara researched in this edition include moari, kokiri, torere, aratiatia, tokatoka, haumia, pou-matai-whetu, tupuwaru, maunga, toi-huarewa and another twenty others. They were used for jumping, swinging, balancing, competing, exercising (much like cross fit), training, sitting, sleeping, contemplating, debating, greeting, game playing, dancing, learning, speaking, demonstrating, moving and performing sacred rites on - especially during Rakau-nui, the most auspicious period for hupara festivals. Legends abound about hupara use in ancient times and named landmarks prolifically recall their past abundance. This introduction provides an overview of ancient locations, their spiritual connections to atua/te taiao/ he tangata and information on their numerous constructions and utilisations.