In Invercargill, Peggy Peek (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha), 76, is concerned that karanga – “one of the last rituals steeped in tikanga we have left” – is being altered, almost to the point of being abused. A younger generation has an anything-goes attitude, she says. They karanga wearing jeans or bright colours, instead of the traditional black skirts. Peggy is fearful the art is dying out.
“We need to bring young women onto the marae and train them. We don’t have the luxury of apprenticeship in the traditional sense, because whānau are often fractured as young ones move away to follow employment.”
Peggy says she was taught to karanga by the nannies, who pushed her out front at different events when they felt she was ready. Peggy has been kaikaranga at Murihiku Marae since 1990. She is also an ordained Anglican priest, and says the two roles often support and enhance each other. Empathy and compassion are key to both; and while she is keen for young women to train as kaikaranga, she believes the role does call for a certain level of maturity, confidence and life experience.
“Some young ones want to be out front doing the karanga but they don’t want to wash the dishes. They don’t want to put in the long hours to learn and appreciate the depth of the role.
“In 1983 when we opened our new wharenui at Murihiku, we all sat down and realised we had to learn the tikanga that would support it. I started learning te reo. That does affect your karanga and your ability to perform it well.”
Murihiku | Southland | Invercargill City | 2010-19 | Story is by tangata whenua
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