Section outline

  • Kua rere te manu; Kua ngā rangi o te ao e rere ana 

    The bird has flown its nest – it is free to fly the skies of the world New directions, initiatives, and horizons

    Āta whakaaro - 

    Takaro/Play

    ‘Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

    This is a memory word game. The different variations are also called by the word recited but generally today the above name applies. 

    History

     Memory type games are numerous and have always been popular. This version of the game is a modern adaptation of the famous place name:

     ‘Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu’ 

    which means - 

    'the summit of the hill, where Tama tea, who is known as the land eater, slid down, climbed up and swallowed mountains, played on his nose flute to his loved one’. 


    The Rules 

    Players divide into two teams. A smallish defined area is chosen. A 10-metre square or round court area is ideal. One player from the reciting team stands stationary on a boundary line or the circle of the defined area while all of the other team spread out within it. The reciter takes one big breath and then in a clear and audible voice they start to recite the name of the game without stopping for breathe while chasing their opponents to try and tag them. Any players who are tagged must leave the court. When the reciter has just about run out of breath they leave the court, whereby the next reciter enters the court where their team mate left it. If a reciter takes a breath on court, or gets the word wrong, an opposing player can come back on. The reciter must still leave the court. The game continues until everyone has been tagged or when a predetermined time has elapsed.