title: Tarāwhai Tāngata Rau

authors: Hiini, Anaha Te Wheoro

subjects: Tarāwhai

abstract: Ngāti Tarāwhai are a unique tribal group from the Te Arawa confederation of tribes.  Located around their traditional stronghold of Lake Okataina, Tarāwhai have endured throughout history to become a proud and noble clan, maintaining their culture and distinctive tribal practises.  Part of their survival throughout time has been their ability to rely on particular traits and attributes that have been portrayed and maintained by members of Tarāwhai across the generations.  These special characteristics have not only supported the development of Tarāwhai, but have also helped the evolution of Tarāwhai’s identity.

This thesis is concerned with four aspects that have been identified as common traits throughout Ngāti Tarāwhai history.  In particular, this study will look at the roles of leaders, tohunga, warriors and carving experts and explore how these qualities have featured significantly within Tarāwhai’s history for many generations.  Furthermore, this thesis will discuss how these aspects have influenced the development of the tribe from early time through to the present day.

It is the proposition of this thesis that the above mentioned attributes have shaped the people of Tarāwhai into the tribal group that they are today.  In addition, while Māori society has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, Tarāwhai continue to display these characteristics in a modern world, and they are still central to the reaffirmation of Tarāwhai identity and the overall wellbeing of the people.  Finally this thesis believes that these attributes must be maintained and perpetuated for Tarāwhi to have a secure place in the future.

text: Tarāwhai Tāngata Rau Ngāti Tarāwhai are a unique tribal group from the Te Arawa confederation of tribes.  Located around their traditional stronghold of Lake Okataina, Tarāwhai have endured throughout history to become a proud and noble clan, maintaining their culture and distinctive tribal practises.  Part of their survival throughout time has been their ability to rely on particular traits and attributes that have been portrayed and maintained by members of Tarāwhai across the generations.  These special characteristics have not only supported the development of Tarāwhai, but have also helped the evolution of Tarāwhai’s identity.

This thesis is concerned with four aspects that have been identified as common traits throughout Ngāti Tarāwhai history.  In particular, this study will look at the roles of leaders, tohunga, warriors and carving experts and explore how these qualities have featured significantly within Tarāwhai’s history for many generations.  Furthermore, this thesis will discuss how these aspects have influenced the development of the tribe from early time through to the present day.

It is the proposition of this thesis that the above mentioned attributes have shaped the people of Tarāwhai into the tribal group that they are today.  In addition, while Māori society has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, Tarāwhai continue to display these characteristics in a modern world, and they are still central to the reaffirmation of Tarāwhai identity and the overall wellbeing of the people.  Finally this thesis believes that these attributes must be maintained and perpetuated for Tarāwhi to have a secure place in the future.

year: 2013

title: Te Tarata

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: This composition placed second in the Haka Composition Section. Te Tarata this composition commemorates the battle of Te Tarata in Te Whakatōhea 15 October 1865. This was the aftermath of the killing of the missionary Rev Carl Sylvius Volkner on the 2 March 1865. At the battle of Te Tarata it is recorded as the only calvary charge in the New Zealand Land Wars. Te Whakatōhea ingeniously wove around the palisade walls tī kouka (Cordyline australis) or cabbage tree. When the canon ball hit the palisades the tī kouka absorbed the force of the canon ball and rebounded the ball. 20 Te Whakatohea were killed and a number of others were wounded. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition 2015.

text: Te Tarata This composition placed second in the Haka Composition Section. Te Tarata this composition commemorates the battle of Te Tarata in Te Whakatōhea 15 October 1865. This was the aftermath of the killing of the missionary Rev Carl Sylvius Volkner on the 2 March 1865. At the battle of Te Tarata it is recorded as the only calvary charge in the New Zealand Land Wars. Te Whakatōhea ingeniously wove around the palisade walls tī kouka (Cordyline australis) or cabbage tree. When the canon ball hit the palisades the tī kouka absorbed the force of the canon ball and rebounded the ball. 20 Te Whakatohea were killed and a number of others were wounded. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition 2015.

year: 2014-10-10

title: Islamic Law of Warfare and the Question of Suicide Terrorism: An Usuli Twelver Shia Perspective

authors: Mortaza, Shams

subjects: Islamic law

abstract: Terrorism in the name of religion and ethnicity is the most important security challenge facing the world since the cold war. Among different types of terrorism its suicide version is the most complicated one to combat. Because a very high number of the current suicide attacks against civilian targets are executed by Muslim militants, suicide terrorism is associated with the religion of Islam. Muslim militant groups use Islamic jurisprudential terms, including jihad, to justify their otherwise felonious acts of terrorism. This tactic of sanctification of criminal acts of terrorism by use of Islamic legal terms and language may lead one to decide that it is Islamic law per se that is the driving force behind the current phenomenon of suicide terrorism. Since it was the Twelver Shia Muslims of Lebanon who began the use of suicide tactics in its current form, Shia Islam, as the branch of the faith in which its followers are seen as pioneers of suicide operations, is naturally the major focus of interest in this regard. 
On account of the widespread use of juridical language by organisers and supporters of suicide terrorism, this thesis investigates whether suicide terrorism as such falls within the rules of legitimate warfare (jihad) as found in Usuli Twelver Shia Islamic law, or not. A detailed discussion of contested interpretations of Islam leads to an examination of Shia jurisprudence which then enables a critical evaluation of Jihad in Shia Jurisprudence and a critical discussion of jihad and suicide terrorism. Islamic jurisprudentialism, or fiqh mindedness, provides a language utilised by violent Muslim extremists who have recourse to, or who otherwise support, suicide terrorism. Furthermore, fatwas are also used by violent extremist Muslims to imbue their orders and prohibitions with a sense of religious holiness and sanction. This provides a context wherein their rulings are promoted as beyond dispute. Thus, with respect to Shia jurisprudence, the mechanism in which religious law is made will be laid bare and the criteria for distinguishing a valid fatwa will be illustrated. All elements of Usuli Shia Islamic law which are related to warfare (as armed violence) will be discussed, and their potential to be used as a justification for suicide terrorism will be closely examined, as will the non-jurisprudential justifications which are also used. It will be argued that, for the most part, current normative uses of Usuli Twelver Shia jurisprudential justification of suicide terrorism constitutes a departure from the authentic Shia tradition.

text: Islamic Law of Warfare and the Question of Suicide Terrorism: An Usuli Twelver Shia Perspective Terrorism in the name of religion and ethnicity is the most important security challenge facing the world since the cold war. Among different types of terrorism its suicide version is the most complicated one to combat. Because a very high number of the current suicide attacks against civilian targets are executed by Muslim militants, suicide terrorism is associated with the religion of Islam. Muslim militant groups use Islamic jurisprudential terms, including jihad, to justify their otherwise felonious acts of terrorism. This tactic of sanctification of criminal acts of terrorism by use of Islamic legal terms and language may lead one to decide that it is Islamic law per se that is the driving force behind the current phenomenon of suicide terrorism. Since it was the Twelver Shia Muslims of Lebanon who began the use of suicide tactics in its current form, Shia Islam, as the branch of the faith in which its followers are seen as pioneers of suicide operations, is naturally the major focus of interest in this regard. 
On account of the widespread use of juridical language by organisers and supporters of suicide terrorism, this thesis investigates whether suicide terrorism as such falls within the rules of legitimate warfare (jihad) as found in Usuli Twelver Shia Islamic law, or not. A detailed discussion of contested interpretations of Islam leads to an examination of Shia jurisprudence which then enables a critical evaluation of Jihad in Shia Jurisprudence and a critical discussion of jihad and suicide terrorism. Islamic jurisprudentialism, or fiqh mindedness, provides a language utilised by violent Muslim extremists who have recourse to, or who otherwise support, suicide terrorism. Furthermore, fatwas are also used by violent extremist Muslims to imbue their orders and prohibitions with a sense of religious holiness and sanction. This provides a context wherein their rulings are promoted as beyond dispute. Thus, with respect to Shia jurisprudence, the mechanism in which religious law is made will be laid bare and the criteria for distinguishing a valid fatwa will be illustrated. All elements of Usuli Shia Islamic law which are related to warfare (as armed violence) will be discussed, and their potential to be used as a justification for suicide terrorism will be closely examined, as will the non-jurisprudential justifications which are also used. It will be argued that, for the most part, current normative uses of Usuli Twelver Shia jurisprudential justification of suicide terrorism constitutes a departure from the authentic Shia tradition.

year: 2016