Tikanga Maori: Living by Maori Values

by Hirini Moko Mead

Tikanga Māori is the authoritative and accessible introduction to understanding the correct Māori ways of doing things as they were done in the past, as they are done in the present – and as they may yet be. In this revised edition, Hirini Mead has added an extensive new chapter on mana whenua, mana moana, Māori authority over land and ocean, and the different interpretations and applications of mana whenua and mana moana historically and today. Hirini Mead has also updated the section on tangihanga to include contemporary issues about cremation choices and what happens to the deceased in Māori/non-Māori partnerships where there are disputes about following tangi tikanga or Pākehā traditions. The remainder of the book explores how tikanga Māori may influence contemporary life and society, and Hirini Mead proposes guidelines to help us test appropriate responses to challenges that may yet be laid down.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Cultural, Academic, Race, Philosophy

398 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

AKA Sydney Moko Mead

Reviews

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just about to finish my year long course in Tikanga Maori. This book was central to my study and is also in our Maori collection at work. Great resource for the practices and protocols. Can recommend book and Open Wananga course.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is many things at once: an introduction for non-Maori to values and worldview of Maori; a guide to key concepts such as tapu, mana, wairua and mauri; a practical guide to implementing tikanga; a discussion of interpretation in a changing world, and a text for those who need a high level of cultural competency. Mead specifies that this is intended for those with English, rather than Te Reo, as the primary language, but within that, there is much for many audiences. The package together has clearly made a strong contribution to living culture, and the survival of tikanga Maori.
This also makes for a pretty readable book. For sure, there are long passages discussing, for example, the tikanga surrounding grief, or at the other end of the scale, genetic modification of food, but these are put within a context of a broader worldview. The tone is always respectful of both Maori and Pakeha, inviting and enthused without getting preachy. Detailed explanations, for example, of the danger and sacred nature of tapu helps to explain the nature of many tikanga.
The book is nearly 20 years old now, although revisions were made about a decade ago. It is not as dated as could be expected, although frequent references to the Te Maori exhibition date it slightly. It would be great to see a new edition noting the increasing bicultural policy impact in New Zealand.

[Bathsheba Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I give this anything other then a 5? He is a rockstar in the area of tikanga and I bow to his mana and wisdom in explaining some of nuance of what it is to be Maori and why we do the things we do.

Took me a bit to get through it, but this is one that I reference in my work all the time, so it was time I did the book due diligence and read it through instead of cherry picking the bits I needed to inform my own practise.

[Wendy Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was long overdue. Super-informative, lots of great examples of tikanga from different parts of Aotearoa NZ and from different situations, and the newer version has a great discussion of how tikanga applies to modern issues (like genetic engineering).

[Susan Wilson]

To say I have read Tikanga Māori is overstating. It is a resource that will need to be repeatedly dipped into. It’s dense with detailed definitions and explanations of ethics from a tikanga perspective.

[Justine Bonner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely informative text. I particularly liked the different points of view presented at the end of each chapter which gave great context for variation in tikanga across Aotearoa

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting, and definitely taught me a lot. But very dense and not the easiest read - perhaps not the best book for a layperson.

[Lady_bercilak · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the subject of Tikanga Maori (Maori values and customs). Some of the tikanga that I was familiar with was helpfully explained and expanded on. There were also (of course) tikanga that I did not know about. I found this book really interesting. It took me about 6 months to read it, a little at a time, but this slow pace helped me to absorb the different concepts in a deeper way.

[Toni Duder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this as part of the tikanga course I’m doing and I found it refreshingly direct and succinct about the huge concepts surrounding the whole subject. This is a great read for anyone looking to get a theoretical understanding of tikanga and the influences on it.

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know more about Maori cultre and why they do things the way they do then this is the book for you. It's aimed at Maori as well as Pakeha

[Ciahnan Darrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always informative and illuminating, though quite dense, too. Well worth reading.