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Harry has come in to see Chop for a tidy up. His hair is long and it's been a while since his last cut. He shares with Chop the Māori concepts that run strong in his whānau.
They discuss the tapu nature of hair within te ao Māori, and how he and his brother were often mistaken for being girls when they were younger because of their long hair.
Harry is a whanaunga (relative) of Chops, and they have a common ancestor named Tāreha in which Harry would like to look like. A musician, Harry reflects on school life, some racist teachers, and learning Greek history instead of his own cultural history at school.
Harry waits on the bench for his turn with Chop Photo: Tai Huri Films / Adam Jones
Music, Tūpuna and Racist Teachers
I love it when all the whānau come down. I guess that's the beauty of Te Tii aye, you can just go for a walk and “hey, kia ora cousin”. Chuck the jug on – if you're out of sugar – run over to the cuzzies… “can I have some sugar please?”
Living in the papa kāinga (homestead) with extended whānau on the shores of Te Puna Inlet near Kerikeri keeps Harry rooted.
As a child, his mother kept his hair long, it grew to the ground. This was a traditional Māori concept that ran strong through his whānau. It wasn’t until his brother came home from school one day, crying because the teachers mistook him for being a girl, that their world collided with a system that did not understand Māori culture.
Chop gives Harry an undercut Photo: Tai Huri Films / Adam Jones
It was custom for tama (boys) to be raised by wāhine within the pā, grow their hair until 7 years of age before going through a pure (a ceremony to remove tapu) and handed over to the men in the hapū (sub-tribe).
This was just the beginning of his mixed experiences within te ao Pākehā, shortly the whānau would move to Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) for better work opportunities. Here he was immersed in a multicultural environment where he attended Otahuhu Primary and Intermediate schools.
Fast forward to 2022 and Harry Muunu (Ngāti Rehia) is 28 years old.
A musician, a Māori Warden, and a classroom kaiarahi i te reo (language leader) alongside his mother Waimarie, a kaiako Māori leading the bilingual unit Te Whakatupuranga at Kerikeri Primary school.
Harry reflects on his kōrero Photo: Tai Huri Films / Adam Jones
I guess that's always been my dream…to push the Māori languages on our younger generations. My ice breaker with them is the music… and then showing them all these pop music songs but in the Māori language.”
He studied music at university and his band even played with the mighty Che Fu.
He melds music with therapy - I'm always telling them… come over, tell me your troubles and put it on a track.
He believes in original music and wants to use his music as a way to showcase what is out there in Te Tai Tokerau for young Māori.
Despite knowing and experiencing the subtle racism in Aotearoa, Harry lives with a heart of compassion towards people.
His grandfather was renowned in Ngāpuhi and a lot of his habits have brushed off on him. Harry just wants to share his music with his whānau and he is making tracks to establish himself as an artist.
The future seems bright for this young man.
Photo: supplied
