Maori and kava: New drug fashion or re-engagement with 'kawa'? (2019)

View/ Open
Type of Content
Journal ArticlePublisher
Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific StudiesISSN
2463-641XCollections
Abstract
The Pacific “cultural keystone species” (Garibaldi & Turner, 2004, pp.1,5) kava is uniquely linked with notions of mana (spiritual power) and used to infuse efficacy into celebrations and life events. The drink, made from this potent icon of identity, brings on feelings of relaxation without marked euphoria, aiding clear-minded talanoa (discussion) to facilitate important and/or contentious dialogue. The sharing and drinking of kava as part of host/guest formalities is used in bringing about mutuality and unity (Aporosa, 2019). It is estimated there are more than 20,000 kava users in Aotearoa/New Zealand on an average Friday or Saturday night, with increasing interest and uptake of this indigenous drink by Māori. Crowley (1994) reports that the Māori word ‘kawa’, literally meaning ‘marae protocol’, has its linguistic foundations in ‘kava’ and the practices associated with this cultural keystone species. This paper explores that linguistic union to ask whether increased kava use by Māori has greater significance than simply a new interaction with a foreign drug substance. Further, due to the use of kava in facilitating talanoa (discussion), the possibility of kava playing a similar role for Māori is considered, one linked to ancestral Pacific connections aimed at assisting kōrero (talanoa), cultural connectedness and practice.
Keywords
kōrero; cultural re-engagement; tapu / noa; kawa; Māori; kavaRights
CC BY 4.0Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Trust and source credibility in consumer engagement : a fashion blog perspective.
Henderson, Katie (University of Canterbury, 2015)The purpose of this study was to explore the role of trust and credibility in consumer engagement (CE), as well the dimensions of consumer engagement relevant within the fashion blog context. A netnographic approach was ... -
Ngā kōrero a ngā poupou o te whare : how to improve Crown and local authority-initiated environmental planning engagement, from the perspectives of Ngāi Tahu environmental kaitiaki.
Bennett, Courtney (University of Canterbury, 2020)In large tracts of Te Waipounamu, the Crown and Local Authorities are required by legislation to engage with Ngāi Tahu on environmental planning matters. In turn, Ngāi Tahu are often morally bound to participate in these ... -
Hei timatanga korero : Maori language regenesis and Mihinare clergy.
Nicholson, Rangi (University of Canterbury. Department of Linguistics, 2000)This thesis is about Maori language regenesis and the role of the Maori Anglican Church. It draws upon current research into language endangennent, language revival, language revitalisation and language reversal from an ...