A new bilingual book, Te Reo Kapekape, by scholar Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) literally translates to “the language of poking fun”. Humour also has the power to diffuse conflict, whether
Hona Black lectures on teaching for Māori medium schools at Te Pūtahi a Toi: School of Māori Knowledge at Massey University, Palmerston North.
Today, however, te reo kapekape is becoming somewhat of a lost art; we are so caught up in life that we forget to see the humour all around us. Growing up in my family, if you were too serious all the time, you would be labelled a “tou maroke” (a dry arse). These words are not insulting, but reflect Māori humour.
Dropping these pearls can distract people from the seriousness of conflict, can break the ice, bridge divides, disarm the enemy, and can often take the wind out of someone’s sail. For example, the recent furore over the bilingual road signs has revealed myriad strong opinions (some of them very outdated). I tend not to engage with these mokoweri (dinosaurs), knowing that they pop up now and then, have a bit of a roar and stomp their feet before retiring back to their caves. “We all speak English,” they say. “Māori signs will confuse people,” they say. “How am I meant to know that ‘Tūnga Pahi’ means bus stop?” they say. But any decent person working at Specsavers would be able to point out the big red picture of a bus on the sign, as well as the words “bus stop” written underneath the Māori text. I think most of Aotearoa New Zealand is moving on. We are not returning to Jurassic Park.
So, the next time you find yourself locked in a fierce conflict, remember the mighty power of wit and humour. Channel your inner comedian and employ te reo kapekape strategically. Who knows, your laughter might be the pebble that starts an avalanche of reconciliation. In the grand drama of life, when all else fails, let humour wear the crown and watch it conquer conflict with a mischievous grin.
(That last line was from ChatGPT by the way - so even the machines know what’s what.)
Te Reo Kapekape, by Hona Black (Oratia Press, $39.99)
- Hona Black lectures on teaching for Māori medium schools at Te Pūtahi a Toi: School of MāoriKnowledge at Massey University, Palmerston North. He has worked as the senior Māori adviser on Massey’s Wellington campus, and been Head of Te Reo Māori at Hato Pāora College in Feilding. Black lives in Porirua with his partner and their baby son.