June 19, 2014
Moon up for award
Auckland academic Paul Moon says a book which is up for a prestigious Australasian literary prize was an exercise in myth busting.
Encounters: the Creation Of New Zealand is shortlisted for the Ernest Scott Prize, which is given by Melbourne University and the Australian Historical Society for the most distinguished contribution to the history of Australia and New Zealand.
Professor Moon, from AUT University’s school of Maori development, says he’s been working for more than a decade uncovering the origins of many Maori and New Zealand customs and myths.
He says many concepts people think are traditional are actually modified by colonisation.
" That notion for example 'kanohi ki te kanohi' talk face to face with someone. Most of the time when you hear that used nowadays, people say thats the way we do things its a better way than on the phone or by email. We feel more comfortable. The original use of that 'kanohi ki te kanohi' was as part of the preparation for war just before you did the haka that would be the instruction because you would then stare out the person face to face " he says.
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