July 25, 2014
Maori tecnhology lighter than air
Brisk breezes should lift the largest kites at tomorrow’s annual Manu Aute Kite Day at Takaparawaha Bastion Point Traditional games expert Harko Brown says flying a kite is a celebration of intelligence and technology.
He is bringing some of the traditional Maori kite designs, such at the manu wahine which he has taken to festivals around the world.
"They’re made out of nikau fronds, and no matter where you go people say 'lovely design but it won't fly because it's full of holes,' but that's the technology of our tupuna. In France one time we were fluying them in 50 kmh gusts, all the other kites were down, it was too dangerous, our little Maori kites were up there flying no trouble at all, so it's all about celebrating technology and also some of the philosophies about why the kites were actually flown," Mr Brown says.
He says Moerewa kaumatua Sol Te Whata, who was buried this week, told him stories about Maori Battalion soldiers flying a manu wahine during the Battle of Cassino in Italy.
Manu Aute Kite Day at Takaparawha Reserve, Orakei Marae starts at 10am.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HARKO BROWN CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjA0NTg=
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