The Maori Stick Game

To play this game each player needs a pair of sticks. The ideal sticks should be smooth and straight, one to one-and-a-half inches in diameter, and twelve to eighteen inches long. They can be carved or have designs painted on them if desired.

Two players should have sticks of approximately the same size. If natural branches cannot be obtained, old broomsticks or dowels from a lumberyard may be cut to size. Beginners can use rolled-up newspapers held together with elastics. But these are only for temporary use, because they will not last and do not make enough noise to emphasize the rhythmic patterns.

One movement of the sticks is made for each beat of the chant. These are the five basic movements:

Clap: hit own sticks together, upright (Fig. 1).

Tap: hit top ends of sticks on floor on each side of knees (Fig. 2).

Drum: hit sticks on floor beyond knees, holding them in the position of a drumstick on a drum (Fig. 3).

Flip: toss sticks in air (turning them once) and catch other end (Fig. 4).

Throw: gently throw stick to partner with upward motion so that stick drops into partner’s hand easily (Fig. 5).

Taps, claps, flips, and drums are done with both hands at the same time. Both players do the same thing. Throws are done with either the right (R) or left (L) hand or as doubles (D) with both hands.

Players kneel, sitting back on their heels, facing each other, their knees about a foot apart. In throwing sticks to partner, each player must throw stick straight across so that the two sticks do not collide in midair (Fig. 6).

On the double throw, one player must throw both sticks in the center while the other player throws sticks outside (Fig. 7). They decide beforehand who throws to the center.

A pattern for one routine is shown here, using terms that have been defined. Once basic movements are mastered, new routines can be devised while various songs are played or sung.

1. Tap, clap, R throw, tap, clap, L throw. 8 times

2. Tap, clap, D throw. 16 times

3. Drum R, flip, clap, drum L, flip, clap. 8 times

4. Drum, flip, R throw, drum, flip, L throw. 8 times

5. Tap, clap, clap.

Illustrated by Jon Burton