Rakau games, by Moesha

.Watch the video link

This video shows: A New Zealand Choir teaching Americans a rakau game.

Tikanga
Tī rākau was viewed not only as a game and useful exercise for young men, but it was also practised by girls. Young women found that its use was beneficial because it made them active, supple and improved their agility for performing kapa haka.

These games consist of the rhythmic throwing and catching of sticks from person to person.

In olden times:

• served as a way of training young warriors to catch enemies' spears in battle.
• the players stood or knelt in a circle
• as the tempo of the chant increased, those who dropped their sticks dropped out of the game
• last person in was the winner
• sticks 3 feet (90 cm) long were used
• was known as tītī touretua in Tūhoe country, and tītī tourea in Northland.
  (tītī to-ure-tua has phallic connotations, ure; penis)
• Ngāti Porou called it poi rākau

In more recent times:

• they have been an entertainment at concerts
• sticks one foot long (30 cm) are used
• players usually sit on the ground facing each other
• but they do stand in the stick dance Hoea te Waka.

Stick game songs are called waiata poi rākau or tītī tōrea. The game and song, "Titi-Torea" can be found on pages 74-77 in Games for Girl Scouts, published by Girl Scouts of the USA.

Another well-known tītī tōrea on this website is Hurihuri

Rakau games on PhotoPeach