Tī Rākau: Māori Rhythm Sticks in Pairs

A stick game from Māori tradition (New Zealand) where partners tap and toss sticks to each other in a rhythmic pattern. It builds coordination and introduces a cultural practice from another people.

How to play

1. Quick background on tī rākau, then each student rolls two sticks from newspaper and tape (5 min).
2. Solo patterns kneeling: vertical tap on the floor, sticks together and a crossed tap, in four counts (6 min).
3. Pairs face to face: on count four, both toss the right stick to the partner's hand at the same time (6 min).
4. Crossed toss, left-hand toss and double toss at once (7 min).
5. Each pair invents a sixteen-count sequence and shows it to another pair (6 min).

Rules

• Gentle, upright tosses at chest height, never toward the face.
• Keep one meter between partners' knees.
• Count the four beats out loud until the pattern runs on its own.
• Respect the culture it comes from: it is a game, not a costume.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: play seated in chairs with the partner facing at the same height.
• Blind or low-vision students: sticks with a bell or noisy tape and hand-to-hand passes instead of tosses.
• Students with less dexterity: slide the stick across the floor instead of tossing it.

Learning goals

• Coordinate taps and tosses to a shared beat.
• Learn the origin and purpose of tī rākau.
• Create a rhythmic sequence with a partner.

Equipment for a class of 25

• newspapers: 15
• tape: 6

Teacher tip

Tī rākau was used to develop dexterity and coordination; explain it in a minute, without exoticizing. Tightly rolled newspaper sticks wrapped in plenty of tape will not hurt and make enough sound; short plastic dowels also work.

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