Describe Mana and comment on its relevance during the Powhiri using a detailed example.



Mana and its Relevance during Powhiri

Introduction

In English Mana is defined as authority, prestige, control, status influence power, spiritual power, or charisma. It is believed to be a supernatural force that is possessed by a person, object or a place (www.maoridictionary.co.nz). It is also associated with tapu as mana and tapu are affected by each other. A person, something, or a place that is more prestigious or important it has more mana. Mana has positive relationship with seniority, the greater the seniority of the descent the greater the mana. Mana entitles the holder with the authority and enables the holder to make effective decisions by properly leading, organizing and regulating the activities. The decisions may range from social to political matters.

Discussion

There are three types of Mana traditionally. The first type of mana is concerned with the inborn characteristics of the person. It comes from the genealogy (whakapapa) of the individual having this mana. This can be because of the rank of the ancestors (tapuna) of the person. The ancestors (tapuna) are thus one the reasons of mana. Their ancestors would have been known for wisdom and good deeds. There are some families (whanau) that we have seen having some special traits, characteristics and skills that usually people don't have. These are the things that they inherit from their tapuna (www.maori.org.nz).

When someone does a good deed, the person often receives encouragement, praise and recognition for the actions performed. This also leads to mana. The conduct of the person during his/her life determines the amount of mana that he/she has. This conduct will enable them to either weaken or strengthen their mana depending on the actions performed by the person.

In the world of Maori humbleness is thought to be one of the highly valued traits. This is because of the belief that most of our great leaders are very humble, that's why it is thought to be one of the characteristics of mana. Singing the praises is also thought to be an action of heightening mana .Great leaders will never like personal praising. It is not like they are not trying to be humble but because they just are. (www.maori.org.nz)

Another mana is the group mana. It is the one that is possessed by a group example being the mana of a marae. In the Maori world ...