Kaupapa Māori
The philosophy of this document is based on a well-known tauparapara. A tauparapara is the first utterance by an opening speaker. It is a tribal poetic chant containing traditional or philosophical statements that usually contain genealogical references (Rewi, 2004), or links to whakapapa.
This tauparapara is acknowledged across various iwi and, as with many accounts, it differs in many ways according to local tribal history. While variations are not unusual, different versions have general themes and concepts in common. The concepts identified within this tauparapara continue throughout a person’s life. They are not static or linear but fluid and transformative.